KI 


• 


NED:   NIGGER   AN'  GENT'MAN 


NED 

NIGGER    AN'    GENT'MAN 

A  Story   of  War  and 
Reconstruction  Days 


BY 
NORMAN   G.    KITTRELL 

Judge  of  the  6iit  Judicial  DUtrid  of  TCXM 


NEW   YORK   AND   WASHINGTON 

THE    NEALE  PUBLISHING    COMPANY 

1907 


COPYRIGHT,  1907,  BY 
THE  NEALE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


•fl 

THE   BLACK   "UNCLES"   AND    "AUNTIES" 
AND  "  MAMMIES" 

'whose  matchless  fidelity  during  the  war  evoked 
the  admiration,  not  only  of  the  South,  but  of 
ciinlized  humanity  the  world  over,  and  'won 
the  profound  and  continuing  gratitude  of  "  dey 
'white  folks,"  this  humble  volume  is  affection- 
ately and  gratefully  dedicated  by  one  of  ' '  dey 
'white  Chilians.  " 

THE  AUTHOR. 


NED:   NIGGER  AN'  GENT'MAN 


Ned:  Nigger  an'  Gent'man 


CHAPTER   I 

"  GOOD  evening,  sir!  " 

The  man  who  extended  this  salutation  was 
a  traveler  in  a  Southern  State  on  the  Atlantic 
border  a  few  years  after  the  close  of  the  war 
between  the  States.  He  was  mounted  on  a 
superb  saddle-horse,  and  his  voice,  dress,  and 
bearing  betokened  that  he  was  a  man  of  in- 
telligence and  good  breeding.  The  person  to 
whom  the  salutation  was  addressed  had  not 
heard  or  noticed  the  approach  of  the  traveler, 
and  was  not  aware  of  his  presence  until  he 
heard  him  speak.  The  contrast  presented  by 
the  two  was  most  striking. 

The  one  was  a  white  man,  the  other  a 
negro.  The  white  man  was  a  little  above 
medium  height,  his  hair  was  slightly  gray,  and 
though  he  was,  perhaps,  sixty  years  of  age,  he 
looked  younger.  The  negro  was  over  six 
feet  in  height,  his  hair  almost  snow  white, 
and  he  looked  seventy  years  of  age  or  more. 

The  white  man  was  dressed  in  a  traveling- 
suit  of  fashionable  cut  and  fine  texture;  the 
negro  was  dressed  in  the  garments  of  a  la- 
borer, but  his  clothing  was  clean  and  bore 
evidence  of  having  been  well  cared  for. 


io    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

The  white  man  was  a  native  of  the  north- 
ern part  of  New  England.  He  had  never 
been  South  before,  and  until  a  few  days  pre- 
vious had  never  talked  with  a  man  who  had 
owned  a  slave,  and  had  never  seen  a  negro 
who  had  been  a  slave.  The  negro  was  a 
native,  having  been  born  and  reared  a  slave 
on  the  very  plantation  on  which  he  then  lived. 

The  white  man  had  been  reared  amid  sur- 
roundings and  under  influences  and  in  a  po- 
litical and  social  faith  which  caused  him  to 
hold  slavery  and  slaveholders  in  profound  ab- 
horrence. So  extreme  were  his  views  and 
such  the  impression  made  on  his  mind  by  what 
he  had  read  and  heard  of  slavery  in  the  South, 
the  feelings  of  the  southern  people  toward 
Abolitionists,  and  the  character  of  slave  own- 
ers, that  he  was  reluctant  to  disclose  the  fact 
that  he  lived  in  New  England,  for  he  feared 
that,  by  reason  of  such  fact,  he  might  be  in 
danger  of  rude  or  discourteous  treatment,  and 
be  unable  successfully  to  accomplish  the  pur- 
pose most  near  his  heart,  the  one  purpose 
which  had  brought  him  South.  The  thought 
of  the  hospitality  of  any  former  slaveholder 
and  rebel  being  offered  him,  or  of  his  accept- 
ance of  such  courtesy  had  never  for  a  moment 
dwelt  in  his  mind. 

The  negro  had  known  nothing  but  slavery 
and  all  its  associations,  except  that  he  had 
been  North  as  the  servant  of  his  master. 
From  his  youth  he  had  been  the  body-servant 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENT'MAN     11 

of  a  typical  representative  southern  gentle- 
man, and  his  wife  had  been  the  maid  and 
constant  attendant  of  the  wife  of  that  gentle- 
man, a  southern  woman  of  education,  culture, 
and  social  position. 

He  knew  of  no  other  standard  whereby  to 
measure  merit  than  that  of  his  "  Marster  " 
and  "  Miss  Ma'y,"  who  in  his  eyes  were  the 
embodiment  of  breeding  and  worth. 

Like  all  negroes  of  his  class  he  was  an 
aristocrat  of  the  aristocrats,  and  while  none 
could  in  his  eyes  possibly  excel  his  "  white 
folks,"  all  who  fell  beneath  this,  the  only 
standard  he  knew,  were  not  "  quality-folks," 
and,  as  he  said,  he  had  "  no  truck  erlong  dey 
kin'." 

The  white  man  was  highly  educated,  the 
negro  did  not  know  "  a  letter  in  the  book," 
but  he  had  a  large  fund  of  native  shrewdness 
and  common  sense,  and  a  remarkable  memory. 
Despite  his  years  the  negro  was  erect  and 
stalwart,  and  there  was  in  his  movements  and 
manners  an  air  of  self-respect,  blended  with 
a  certain  deference  and  politeness,  and  a  sort 
of  crude  grace  and  dignity,  derived,  so  to 
speak,  by  absorption  and  imitation,  from 
long  contact  and  association  with  southern 
gentlemen  of  his  master's  class,  one  of  the 
highest  type  of  gentlemen  of  which  there  is 
either  record  or  tradition. 

When  he  heard  the  traveler's  voice  he 
looked  up,  lifted  his  hat  and  bowed. 


12    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

"  Good  ebenin',  boss.  \Von't  you  'light 
an'  let  me  put  your  boss  in  de  stable  an' 
'scort  you  ter  de  big  house?  " 

"No,  I  thank  you,  sir,"  the  traveler  re- 
plied; "  but  I  will  get  down  and  sit  on  that 
log  there.  After  I've  rested  awhile  I  will  go 
into  the  town,  which  they  say  is  only  about 
five  miles  from  here."  Dismounting,  the 
traveler  seated  himself  and  asked,  "  Who 
lives  here?  It  is  a  beautiful  place  and  the 
view  is  a  lovely  one." 

"  Dis,  sah,"  said  the  negro,  "  is  whar  my 
Marster,  Gunnel  Hamilton  Marshall  de  fus', 
libs.  Dat  is  his  plantashun  down  dat  valley 
tcr  de  right.  His  woods-pastur'  is  over  dar 
on  de  hill  ter  de  eas',  an'  dat  is  his  house  jes' 
on  de  p'int  ob  de  hill  ter  de  wes'.  Mighty 
nigh  all  de  Ian'  'roun'  here  is  Marster's.  He 
got  'bout  five  thousan'  acres,  an'  he  raise  er 
sight  er  corn  an'  cotton."  There  was  a  ring 
of  pride  in  the  negro's  voice,  and  as  he  looked 
down  the  valley  at  the  farm  white  with  cotton 
ready  for  the  picker,  and  at  the  blooded  ani- 
mals in  the  stable  lot,  on  the  fence  of  which 
he  was  leaning,  and  at  the  stately  colonial 
mansion  with  broad  galleries  and  fluted  col- 
umns on  "  de  p'int  ob  de  hill,"  he  seemed  to 
feel  as  if  he  had  a  proprietary  interest  in  all 
that  he  saw. 

The  sun  hung  just  above  the  high  hill  to 
the  west,  and  its  parting  rays  lighted  the 
woods  beyond  the  valley,  where  the  green  and 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN     13 

gold  of  the  sweet-gum,  the  crimson  of  the 
sumach,  and  the  purple  of  the  black-gum 
blended  in  beauty,  and  set  the  forest  aflame 
with  a  glow  of  rarest  colors. 

The  traveler  sat  for  some  time  in  silence, 
apparently  enjoying  deeply  the  beauty  of  a 
scene  which  was  to  him  one  of  almost  entire 
novelty.  After  awhile  he  said: 

"  This  is  all  very  beautiful  and  very  new 
to  me,  and  since  you  have  told  me  the  name 
of  the  owner  of  this  handsome  estate,  will 
you  not  be  so  kind  as  to  tell  me  your  name?  " 

"  Well,  boss,  dey  tells  me  my  sho'-'nuff 
name  is  Edward  Marshall;  but  Marster  calls 
me  Ned,  an'  I'm  Marster's  nigger.  I  b'en 
waitin'  on  him  fer  fifty  year,  an'  I  gwine  keep 
on  long  as  I  lib  or  he  lib.  He's  de  bes'  man 
an'  de  smartes'  man  in  de  woiT." 

As  the  conversation  proceeded  the  contrast 
of  expression  on  the  faces  of  the  white  man 
and  the  negro  was  as  great  as  their  contrast 
of  nativity  and  condition. 

The  expression  of  the  white  man  was  that 
of  mingled  surprise,  perplexity,  and  embar- 
rassment, while  upon  the  face  of  the  negro 
was  a  smile  which  seemed  almost  ready  to 
spread  into  a  laugh,  a  laugh  which  he  reso- 
lutely suppressed. 

u  Boss,  you  looks  lak  you  mout  be  power- 
ful tyud.  Won't  you  walk  in  de  house,  sah? 
My  Marster  an'  Mistis  is  been  in  town  ter- 
day,  but  dey  will  be  back  about  dus'.  You 


H    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

kin  set  in  de  settin'-room  by  de  fiah,  'ca'se  it 
gits  kinder  cool  to'rds  de  shank  ob  de  ebenin'." 

"  No,  I  thank  you,"  the  traveler  replied. 
"  I  will  rest  here  awhile,  for  I  am  very  tired." 

"  I  guess,  boss,  you  ain't  used  to  ridin' 
much.  I  notices  you  come  from  de  Norf  an' 
ain't  much  'quainted  wid  dis  kentry." 

The  traveler  looked  up  in  surprise.  "  How 
do  you  know  that?  " 

"  'Scuse  me,  boss,  I  don't  mean  no  disre- 
spec'," — he  bowed  and  touched  his  hat, — 
"  but  I  knowed  it  fus'  by  your  voice,  'ca'se  I 
b'en  in  de  Norf  lots  o'  times;  den  I  knowed 
it  by  de  way  you  spoke  when  you  fus'  rid 
up,  'ca'se  you  said,  '  Good  ebenin',  sah.' ' 

"  Well,  was  not  that  proper?  " 

"  Oh,  yessah,  yessah,  it  was  proper  an' 
perlite  an'  all  dat;  but  it  ain't  de  way  dat 
er  gent'man  would  er  spoke  down  in  dese 
parts." 

"  Why,  what  would  a  southern  gentleman 
have  said?  " 

"  Well,  boss,  dat  'pen's  'tirely  on  who  it 
was.  Now,  sah,  it's  dis  way  yer  see.  Ef  he 
was  a  gent'man  w'ut  belong  ter  de  quality- 
folks  an'  was  kinder  old  lak  Marster,  an' 
knowed  me,  he  would  er  sayed,  '  Howdy  do, 
Ned?'  in  de  perlites',  kindes'  way.  Ef  he 
didn't  know  me  he  would  er  sayed,  c  Howdy, 
old  man,'  or  *  Howdy,  Uncle.'  Jes'  so.  Ef 
he  was  a  quality  young  man  what  knowed  me 
lak  dem  young  gent'mens  does  w'ut  comes  ter 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENT'MAN     15 

Marster's  house  er  visitin,'  he  would  er  sayed, 
'  Howdy,  Uncle  Ned ;  how  you  do  ter-day  ?  ' 
an'  sayed  it  jes'  ez  perlite  ez  he  would  er 
spoke  ter  Marster;  an  w'en  any  er  dem  gent'- 
men  spoke  I'd  say,  '  Thankee,  Marster,  I'm 
tolurbel  ter-day;  hope  you's  well.'  Der  ain't 
none  er  dem  would  er  sayed  sah,  an'  I  ain't 
usen  ter  it.  It  'pears,  boss,  lak  you  kin  mighty 
nigh  tell  quality-folks  by  de  way  dey  speaks 
ter  de  po'  an'  de  'umbl',  speshully  ter  niggers ; 
dey  al'ays  speaks  kin'  an'  perlite.  But  scrub- 
folks,  w'ut  ain't  got  no  manners,  speaks  big- 
gerty-lak  an'  rough,  lak  it  bemean  'em  ter  be 
perlite  ter  de  po'.  " 

"  Well,  you've  told  me  what  the  '  quality- 
folks,'  as  you  call  them,  would  have  said. 
Now,  how  would  people  who  are  not  '  quali- 
ty-folks,' whatever  that  means,  have  spoken 
to  you  ?  " 

"  Boss,  I  tell  you  right  now,  I  don'  had 
much  truck  along  er  none  but  quality- folks ; 
but  some  time  some  ob  de  udder  kin'  comes 
erlong  heah,  an'  ef  one  er  dem  taller-face 
trash  crowd — what  libs  over  yonder  in  de 
san'ills,  an'  who  ain't  nebber  had  er  nigger, 
ner  his  daddy  nuther — was  ter  come  erlong 
heah,  dar  'd  be  'bout  er  half  er  foot  'twixt  de 
een'  er  his  britches'  laigs  an'  de  top  er  his 
shoes,  ef  he  had  on  a'y  shoe,  an'  his  ha'r  won' 
be  comb'  sence  de  wah,  an'  he'd  say,  '  Say, 
nigg-e-r,'  an'  I  wouldn't  pay  no  'tenshun  ter 
him,  'ca'se  his  sort  ain't  never  had  no  man- 


16    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

ners,  ner  ain't  been  used  ter  nothin',  an'  I  don' 
reckernize  dat  kin'  'tall." 

"  I  fear  you  think  a  man  must  have  money 
and  fine  clothes  to  be  a  gentleman." 

"  No,  sah ;  no,  sah,  boss ;  money  ain't  got 
nuttin'  'tall  ter  do  wid  it.  Money  cain't  buy 
no  manners.  It's  all  in  de  blood  an'  in  de 
stock  an'  de  raisin'.  Marster  'd  be  a  gent'- 
man  ef  he  was  in  de  po'-house.  Den  dar's 
lots  er  peepul  w'ut  ain't  rich  w'ut's  pow'ful 
good  folks.  De  carpenter  w'ut  build  Mars- 
ter's  house  an'  de  man  w'ut  mek  his  kerridge 
is  de  bes'  kin'  er  men,  an'  I  gits  on  wid  'em 
fine.  Den  lots  er  men  w'ut  wa'n't  rich  an' 
didn't  had  no  niggers,  wen'  ter  de  wah  wid 
mah  young  marsters;  an'  dey  fit  lak  wil'-cats. 
But  I  nacherly  'spises  de  lazy,  triflin',  po'- 
white  trash  w  ut  libs  in  de  san'ills  an'  won' 
wu'k.  Dey  got  a  co'n-patch  'bout  de  size  o' 
Marster's  gyarden,  an'  a  'backer-patch  'bout 
big  ez  er  saddle  blanket,  an'  all  dey  do  is, 
dey  chaws  terbacker  an'  squirt  de  juice  thu' 
dey  teef,  an'  cuss  de  guberment.  But,  boss, 
it's  gittin'  to'rds  dus'  an'  you  must  go  ter  de 
house.  You'll  fin'  a  good  fiah  in  de  settin'- 
room,  an'  Marster  an'  Miss  Ma'y  '11  be  home 
'fore  long.  Soon  ez  I  put  up  your  hoss  I'll 
go  wid  you,  'ca'se  ob  co'se  you's  gwine  ter 
stay  all  night." 

"  I  am  obliged,  but  perhaps  I  had  best  wait 
until  the  gentleman  or  the  house  comes,  and 
ask  his  permission." 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN     17 

"  'Tain't  no  use  ter  wait  ter  ax  Marster, 
'ca'se  I  represents  him  w'en  he  ain't  ter  home, 
an'  ef  I  lets  you  le'be  heah  dis  time  ob  de 
ebenin',  'stidder  takin'  you  ter  de  house, 
Marster  gwine  ter  meet  you  down  de  road, 
an'  den  he  gwine  ter  ax  me  is  I  los'  my 
manners." 

"  Well,  I  shall  risk  accepting  your  invita- 
tion, and  will  be  glad  if  your  master  will  al- 
low me  to  stay  several  days,  for  I  am  very 
much  fatigued;  and  besides  I  may  be  able  to 
learn  something  I  am  anxious  to  know." 

"  Oh,  dat's  all  right,  boss.  De  longer  you 
stay  de  better  Marster  gwine  lak  it,  fer  he 
sho'ly  do  lub  comp'ny." 

"  I  will  gladly  pay  him  liberally  for  my 
entertainment." 

11  Say,  boss,  please,  sah,  don't  say  nuttin'  to 
Marster  'bout  payin'  for  stayin'  wid  him, 
'ca'se  ef  you  do  you  sho'  gwine  ter  'fen'  him." 

"Why  should  it  give  offense?  I  am  a 
stranger,  and  I  have  no  right  to  expect  your 
'  marster,'  as  you  call  him,  to  keep  me  and 
my  horse  for  several  days,  or  for  a  day,  with- 
out pay." 

"  Dat's  all  right,  boss;  but  'scuse  me,  sah, 
but  you  sho'  will  'fen'  Marster  all  de  same, 
'ca'se  he's  a  quality-gent'man,  sah,  an'  he  don' 
run  no  hotel.  I  b'en  here  sence  I  was  born  an' 
Fse  seen  more'n  ten  thousan'  peepul  er  gwine 
in  an'  er  comin'  outen  dat  house,  but  I  ain't 
never  seen  no  man  pay  for  stayin'  in  it  yit. 


i8    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

No,  sah,  no  man  don'  pay  for  eatin'  er  sleepin' 
in  my  Marster's  house." 

"  Why,  I  paid  for  my  entertainment  last 
night,  and  the  man  who  owned  the  house  was, 
I  should  judge,  a  rich  man." 

"  Whar  mout  it  er  b'en  dat  you  stay,  boss, 
an'  what  mout  er  b'en  de  man's  entitlemunt 
w'ut  lib  dar?;' 

"  I  should  judge  it  was  some  twenty-five 
miles  north  of  here.  The  house  was  large 
and  well  furnished,  and  the  owner's  name,  I 
believe,  was  Harper." 

"  Oh,  yes,  ob  co'se,  ob  co'se.  He  tuk  yo' 
money  'ca'se  he  ain't  quality-folks.  He  was 
oberseer  in  slav'y-time,  an'  no  oberseer  never 
was  quality-folks.  He  ain't  b'long  in  Mars- 
ter's class  'tall." 

*  You  have  spoken  several  times  of  *  quali- 
ty-folks.' What  do  you  mean  by  '  quality- 
folks '?  Now  Mr.  Harper  is  rich  and  lives 
in  a  fine  house,  and  he  treated  me  as  well  as 
a  stranger  has  a  right  to  expect." 

"  Oh,  yes,  boss,  he  got  a  fine  house  an' 
plenty  ob  money,  but  dat  don'  make  quality. 
Quality-folks  is  quality-folks,  an'  when  you 
see  my  Marster  an'  Mistis  you  '11  see  de  dif- 
f'unce  better'n  I  kin  tell  yer.  Hit's  in  dey 
blood  jes'  lak  it  wuz  in  dey  gran'daddy  an' 
gran'mammy  blood.  Folks  is  jes'  lak  bosses 
—some  is  quality,  some  is  scrub.  Now,  you 
jes'  look  ober  dar  at  dat  broad-back,  big-laig, 
fat,  slick  hoss.  He  kin  pull  th'ee  bales  er 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'   GENTMAN     19 

cotton,  but  ef  you  was  ter  rub  him  an'  train 
him  an'  feed  him  on  wheat  an'  lightnin'  he 
couldn'  run  lak  dat  yonder  slim-neck,  flat- 
laig,  fine-ha'r'd,  short-fetlock  sorrel  stan'in' 
dar  by  him,  'ca'se  he's  a  scrub  an'  de  sorrel's 
er  quality-horse;  got  de  blood  in  him,  got  de 
breedin';  an'  dar  don'  nobody  on'erstan'  how 
de  diff'unce  is,  but  it's  dar,  an'  it's  de  same 
way  wid  people. 

"  'Scuse  me,  boss,  I  don'  mean  no  disrespec' 
ter  you  ner  nobody.  He's  a  white  man  an' 
I'se  a  nigger;  but  ef  dat  man  w'ut  you  stayed 
wid  las'  night  had  dat  crib  full  er  gol'  dollars, 
an'  er  house  fine  as  de  Capertul  ob  de 
Newnited  States,  he  wouldn'  be  ekal  to  Cun- 
nel  Hamilton  Marshall,  my  Marster,  an'  he 
wouldn'  be  quality-folks.  Furdermo',  his 
wife  wouldn'  be  ekal  ter  my  Miss  Ma'y;  but 
ez  fer  dat,  dar  ain't  na'y  'oman  is  ekal  ter  her 
upon  de  yearth." 

"  You  certainly  have  a  high  opinion  of  the 
gentleman  and  lady  you  call  '  Marster '  and 
'  Miss  Ma'y.' ' 

"  Ain't  got  no  higher  'pinyun  ob  'em  dan 
dey  'serve,  boss;  an'  you  '11  say  de  same  when 
you  see  'em. 

"  Ef  you'll  walk  in  de  house  now,  boss, 
Hester,  dat's  my  wife,  '11  show  you  inter  de 
settin'-room." 

The  gentleman  walked  up  the  avenue  to 
the  stately  mansion  which  stood  something 
like  a  hundred  yards  to  the  west  up  a  gentle 


20    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

slope.  It  was  painted  white  with  green 
blinds,  the  galleries  were  broad,  the  columns 
fluted,  and  there  were  wings  at  either  side  on 
the  same  lines  with  the  main  building,  but 
only  one  story  in  height.  The  fire-light  shone 
through  the  high  windows,  and  the  whole 
building  presented  a  most  inviting  and  hos- 
pitable appearance. 

He  was  met  at  the  head  of  the  steps  by  a 
typical  southern  "  aunty,"  who  dropped  a 
curtsy  and  led  the  way  to  the  hall.  Her  dress 
was  of  blue  and  black  stripes,  a  bandanna 
handkerchief  was  tied  about  her  head,  and  a 
white  handkerchief  served  as  a  collar.  She 
looked  exceedingly  neat  and  she  moved  like 
one  accustomed  to  receiving  guests.  There 
was  a  noticeable  pride  in  her  bearing,  but  she 
was  free  from  any  offensive  pretension;  on 
the  contrary,  her  demeanor  was  that  of  a 
thoroughly  trained  servant;  humility,  blended 
with  pride  and  dignity,  characterizing  her 
every  movement. 

She  escorted  the  stranger  to  the  guest  cham- 
ber, a  large  room  furnished  in  solid  ma- 
hogany, and  every  appointment  in  good 
taste. 

When  he  was  ready  to  descend  she  re- 
turned and  escorted  him  to  the  sitting-room. 

The  sitting-room  was  an  apartment  twenty 
or  more  feet  square,  with  ceilings  twelve  feet 
in  height.  It  was  plainly  and  most  com- 
fortably furnished  with  furniture  of  the  best 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    21 

quality,  such  as  was  in  common  use  a  quarter 
of  a  century  earlier. 

In  the  large  open  fireplace  there  was  a 
roaring  wood  fire  of  oak  and  hickory  which 
lighted  brilliantly  the  entire  room,  and 
brought  into  bold  relief  the  family  pictures 
on  the  wall.  The  room  had  an  air  of  com- 
fort and  delightful  hospitality,  and  as  the 
stranger  stood  before  the  fire  he  wondered 
what  manner  of  people  they  were  who  lived 
in  such  a  house,  and  of  whom  the  old  negro 
and  former  slave  spoke  in  such  terms  of  pride 
and  affection. 

He  had  often  read  and  heard  of  the  hor- 
rors of  slavery,  of  the  cruelty,  brutality,  and 
savagery  of  slave  owners,  of  their  intolerance 
of  all  who  differed  from  them,  and  of  how  the 
slaves  hated  their  masters  and  yearned  for 
freedom.  As  he  waited  for  the  coming  of 
Colonel  Marshall  and  his  wife,  his  hosts  that 
were  to  be,  he  almost  wished  that  he,  a  New 
England  "  Yankee,"  had  not  been  so  bold  as 
to  accept  the  invitation  of  a  servant  to  be- 
come the  guest  of  an  ex-slave  owner  and 
"  rebel." 


CHAPTER   II 

As  the  traveler,  with  feelings  of  mingled 
curiosity  and  apprehension,  stood  in  the 
brightly  lighted  room,  he  heard  a  vehicle 
draw  up  at  the  foot  of  the  steps,  and  a  strong, 
full,  kindly  voice  say,  "  Well,  Ned,  you  seem 
to  have  company  to-night,"  and  he  heard  the 
old  man  reply,  "  Yes,  san,  dar's  a  gent'man 
in  de  settin'-room,  sah.  He  is  a  trab'ler,  an' 
rid  up  late  dis  ebenin',  an'  wuz  pow'ful  tyud, 
an'  I  axed  him  ter  stop,  an'  he  say  he  'd  wait 
an'  see  you  'fo'  he  come  in  de  house;  but  I 
tol'  him  'twa'n't  no  use  fer  dat,  'ca'se  ef  I  let 
er  gent'man  le'be  heah  at  night  an'  tyud,  you 
sho'  gwine  ax  me  ef  I  done  los'  my  manners." 

"  I  certainly  should,"  the  master  replied. 
'  You  did  exactly  right.  Come,  Mary,  we 
must  go  in  and  greet  our  guest." 

Just  as  Colonel  Marshall  and  his  wife 
started  up  the  steps  Ned  drew  close  to  the 
Colonel  and  said  in  a  tone  he  meant  to  be  too 
low  to  be  heard  in  the  house,  "  Marster,  de 
trab'ler  look  lak  er  mighty  nice  man,  but  he 
come  f'um  de  Norf  an'  don'  know  nuttin'  'tall 
'bout  we  folks  down  heah.  He  sho'-nuff 
Yankee." 

The  stranger  heard  the  remark  and  the 

22 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    23 

Colonel's  reply,  "  That  makes  no  difference. 
He  is  in  my  house,  he  is  my  guest,  and  he  is 
welcome.  If  you  had  not  invited  him  to  stay 
you  would  have  offended  me." 

Colonel  Marshall  passed  quickly  into  the 
hall  and  thence  into  the  sitting-room,  while 
Mrs.  Marshall  went  into  her  bed  chamber. 
As  his  host  approached  the  stranger  saw  he 
was  more  than  six  feet  in  height,  erect  and 
stalwart,  with  clear  and  ruddy  skin.  His 
hair,  which  had  been  dark,  was  almost  entirely 
white,  and  so  was  his  beard.  His  eyes  were 
dark  and  clear,  and  he  carried  his  seventy 
years  with  an  ease  and  grace  of  manner  which 
proclaimed  him  the  gentleman  that  he  was  by 
birth  and  breeding. 

He  stepped  quickly  to  where  his  guest 
stood,  and  with  outstretched  hand  said,  "  My 
name  is  Marshall,  and  I  am  glad,  sir,  to  wel- 
come you  to  my  house." 

"  My  name  is  Standwick  and  I  am  from 
Maine,"  said  the  stranger,  "  and  I  am  ap- 
preciative of  your  cordial  welcome,  sir.  I 
trust  I  have  not  offended  by  acting  upon  the 
invitation  of  your  servant  to  become  your 
guest  for  the  night." 

1  No,  indeed,  my  servant  did  exactly  right. 
He  has  given  us  the  pleasure  of  having  a 
guest,  and  did  what  he  knew  I  expected  and 
desired  him  to  do — extend  the  hospitality  of 
my  house  to  any  gentleman  who  desires  to 
stay.  If  you  will  excuse  me  for  a  moment  I 


24    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

will  bring  Mrs.  Marshall."  He  returned  in 
a  few  minutes,  accompanied  by  his  wife,  whom 
he  presented  to  his  guest.  She  gave  him  a 
cordial  and  gracious  welcome,  and  one  that 
made  him  feel  perfectly  at  home. 

Mrs.  Marshall  was  above  the  average 
height,  and  was  an  exceedingly  handsome 
woman,  and  Mr.  Standwick  soon  saw  that 
she  was  to  the  tips  of  her  slender  fingers,  not 
only  an  aristocrat,  but  a  woman  of  culture, 
and  a  brilliant  conversationalist.  Turning 
smilingly  to  her  husband  she  said,  "  My  dear, 
you  have  forgotten  to  remove  your  overcoat 
and  gloves."  As  she  was  assisting  him  in 
removing  his  coat,  Colonel  Marshall  said, 
'  We  are  specially  glad,  Mr.  Standwick,  to 
welcome  you  to  our  home,  because  your  name 
is  one  very  dear  to  us.  It  is  associated  in  our 
minds  and  memories  with  two  as  noble  spir- 
its as  ever  gave  up  their  lives  on  the  altar  of 
duty,  and  as  soon  as  you  uttered  your  name 
the  thought  occurred  to  me  that  perhaps  they 
were  your  kinsmen,  perhaps  your  sons." 

If  Colonel  Marshall  and  his  wife  had  been 
looking  into  the  face  of  their  guest  they  would 
have  seen  pass  over  it  an  expression  of  sur- 
prise amounting  almost  to  a  shock,  but  this 
expression  was  followed  by  one  of  relief,  if 
not  of  real  delight;  but  before  they  turned  he 
had  recovered  himself  and  his  face  had  re- 
sumed its  usual  expression. 

"  I  have  never  been  blessed  with  a  son,"  he 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'   GENT'MAN    25 

said  calmly,  with  a  barely  perceptible  quiver 
in  his  voice;  "and  if  those  you.  knew  were 
kinsmen  of  mine,  I  do  not  know  it.  There 
are  families  in  New  England  of  the  same 
name,  except  that  they  drop  the  d;  some  of  my 
immediate  family  have  done  so." 

"  The  young  men  we  knew  did  not  use  the 
d  and  they  were  from  Connecticut.  They 
were  worthy  to  be  kin  to  the  noblest, 
and  for  your  sake  I  wish  they  had  been  of 
your  blood.  Though  one  of  them  died  in 
the  ranks  of  the  foes  of  the  South,  or  rather 
was  a  leader  of  her  foes,  he  was  a  gentleman 
and  a  hero,  and  his  brother  who  fell  on  the 
other  side  was  as  knightly  a  spirit  as  ever  died 
for  his  country." 

"  As  you  know,  Colonel  Marshall,"  Mr. 
Standwick  said,  "  I  am  a  native  of  the  North, 
and  doubtless  your  views  and  mine  relative  to 
the  war  which  ended  a  few  years  ago  are  very 
divergent.  I  have  never  had  it  in  my  heart 
to  feel  unkindly  to  the  men  of  the  South  who 
battled  for  their  honest  convictions,  and  I  am 
sure  we  will  be  willing  to  accord  to  each  other 
credit  for  sincerity  of  statement  and  belief. 

"I  have  never  been  South  before;  I  was 
never  before  in  the  house  of  a  representative 
southern  gentleman.  Never,  till  I  rode  up 
here  this  afternoon,  had  I  spoken  to  a  man 
who  had  been  a  slave.  I  know  nothing  of 
slaves  or  free  negroes,  or  of  former  slave 
owners,  except  what  came  to  me  in  grievously 


26    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

distorted  shape,  and  I  feel  sure  already  that 
I  have  much  to  learn  and  to  unlearn." 

"  We  are  well  prepared,"  said  Colonel 
Marshall,  "  to  believe  what  you  say,  and 
freely  accord  you  the  same  sincerity  of  con- 
viction we  claim  for  ourselves.  I  trust  you 
will  stay  long  enough  to  learn  at  first  hand 
the  truth  concerning  those  matters  of  which 
you  have  heard  from  prejudiced  sources. 
The  South  has  nothing  to  conceal.  She  is 
willing  to  be  judged  by  her  record.  How- 
ever, we  will  have  ample  time  to  discuss  ques- 
tions which  have  by  the  inevitable  logic  of 
events  become  in  a  large  degree  mere  academic 
abstractions;  for  the  present  the  more  pleas- 
ing and  profitable  discussion  of  supper  claims 
our  attention,  and  we  will  go  immediately,  as 
I  see  Hester  waiting  to  announce  it." 

Mr.  Standwick,  bowing,  offered  his  arm  to 
Mrs.  Marshall,  and  followed  by  Colonel 
Marshall  she  led  the  way  across  the  broad 
hall  to  the  dining-room,  a  large  room  with 
high  ceilings,  finished  in  dark  woods,  heated 
by  a  wood  fire  in  an  open  fireplace,  and  lighted 
by  candles  in  silver  candelabra. 

The  supper  was  a  typical  one,  abundant, 
skillfully  cooked  and  temptingly  served,  and 
as  the  guest  ate  with  appetite  sharpened  by 
his  long  ride,  he  thought  that  he  had  never 
seen  a  table  so  calculated  at  once  to  tempt 
and  satisfy  the  appetite.  There  was  in  set- 
ting and  service  perfection  in  every  detail. 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENT'MAN     27 

but  no  ostentation  or  attempt  at  display.  It 
was  such  a  meal  as  such  a  host  and  hostess 
might  have  been  expected  to  preside  over. 

Hester,  the  wife  of  Ned,  perfectly  trained, 
needed  neither  command  nor  suggestion,  but 
was  at  hand  to  supply  every  desire  of  her 
master's  guest,  and  what  with  perfect  service, 
a  dignified,  intelligent,  and  affable  host,  and 
a  gracious  and  brilliant  hostess,  the  northern 
stranger  found  his  first  meal  in  a  southern 
home  an  experience  as  delightful  as  it  was 
novel,  and  when  he  had  supped  he  bowed  to 
his  hostess  and  assured  her  he  had  never  be- 
fore so  enjoyed  a  meal,  and  his  tone  and 
manner  attested  his  entire  sincerity. 

After  they  had  returned  to  the  sitting- 
room,  Mr.  Standwick  said, 

"  Never  until  I  rode  across  the  country 
did  I  appreciate  the  ruin  and  devastation 
wrought  by  the  war,  and  after  I  saw  the 
chimneys  of  so  many  burned  homes  standing 
like  mute  memorials  I  wondered  how  this 
house  and  another  I  saw  this  afternoon  some- 
thing like  a  mile  distant  escaped  what  seems 
to  have  been  well-nigh  universal  ruin." 

"  It  would,"  said  Colonel  Marshall,  "  re- 
quire a  long  story  to  explain  this  almost  mar- 
velous exception  to  the  rule  of  destruction 
which  seemed  to  have  been  the  guide  of  those 
who  commanded  the  army  which  invaded 
this  section;  but  because  of  some  unpleasant 
features  connected  with  the  story  I  prefer 


28    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

not  to  relate  the  incident,  with  which,  how- 
ever, one  of  the  men  of  your  name  was  most 
nobly  connected. 

"  Your  curiosity  is  most  natural,  and  can 
be  readily  gratified  by  inquiry  of  Ned,  who 
will  delight  in  giving  you  every  detail.  You 
will  find  him  most  interesting,  and  you  are 
at  liberty  to  talk  with  him  freely  concerning 
any  incident  or  matter  of  local  history, 
whether  it  relates  to  a  time  before,  during, 
or  since  the  war.  You  will  find  he  has  a 
wonderful  memory,  a  remarkable  capacity  for 
interesting  recital,  and  while  he  is  unedu- 
cated, he  has  a  large  fund  of  common  sense, 
and  is  absolutely  truthful. 

"  By  the  way,  I  am  sorry  to  say  I  shall  be 
compelled  to  turn  you  over  to  Ned  as  your 
host  and  entertainer  during  the  day  for  sev- 
eral days,  instead  of  enjoying  that  pleasure 
myself.  Our  only  surviving  son — we  gave 
two  to  the  South — is  a  lawyer  living  in  the 
county-seat  five  miles  to  the  south,  and  his 
only  child,  a  son,  Hamilton  Marshall  the 
third,  has  been  very  ill  for  more  than  two 
weeks.  Being  the  only  grandchild  and  a  most 
manly,  promising,  and  attractive  little  fel- 
low, all  our  hearts  are  bound  up  in  him,  and 
his  grandmother  and  I  drive  in  every  day  to 
aid  in  nursing  him,  returning  home  every 
night. 

"  He  is  now  convalescent,  but  he  needs 
much  nursing,  and  we  must  continue  to  go  in 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    29 

every  day  until  all  danger  is  past.  Ned  and 
Hester  will  see  to  your  comfort,  and  I  will 
have  Ned  drive  over  and  bring  my  friend, 
Captain  Alston,  who  lives  in  the  other  house 
that  was  spared,  to  visit  you.  There  will  be 
a  buggy  and  horse,  and  a  saddle-horse  at  your 
disposal,  and  my  guns  are  in  excellent  condi- 
tion and  my  dogs  are  well  trained,  if  you 
are  fond  of  quail  shooting.  I  am  sorry  that 
we  must  be  away,  but  am  sure  you  will  ap- 
preciate the  conditions." 

"  Certainly,  Colonel  Marshall.  I  would 
not  have  you  remain  on  my  account.  The 
very  novelty  of  the  situation  will,  in  a  meas- 
ure, atone  for  your  absence. 

"  Having  your  permission  to  talk  to  your 
servant,  I  have  no  doubt  I  shall  find  him  both 
interesting  and  instructive.  I  should  perhaps 
apologize  to  you  for  talking  for  a  consider- 
able time  with  him  this  afternoon,  but  he  is 
an  entire  novelty  and  a  most  interesting  and 
amusing  one.  I  had  never  talked  with  a 
negro  who  had  been  a  slave,  and  the  oppor- 
tunity to  do  so  was  a  temptation  I  could  not 
resist." 

"  I  assure  you,"  returned  Colonel  Mar- 
shall, "  no  apology  is  necessary  for  talking  to 
Ned.  While  he  is  a  negro,  or  as  he  calls 
himself  and  all  his  race,  a  '  nigger,'  he  is  a 
gentleman.  He  has  been  my  body-servant 
and  carriage-driver  for  fifty  years.  His  wife 
has  been  the  maid  and  constant  attendant  of 


3o    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

my  wife  from  her  childhood,  and  both  of 
them  have  by  training,  association,  and  ab- 
sorption acquired  the  manners  of  well-bred 
white  people;  and  know  what  is  proper  in  a 
social  way  much  better  than  many  whites. 
They  know  their  places  and  keep  them.  They 
are  proud  of  the  family  they  belong  to,  and 
are  scrupulously  honest. 

"  When  they  were  slaves  there  was  not 
enough  money  in  the  State  to  buy  them,  and 
they  have  never  known  what  it  is  to  feel  a 
blow  or  to  suffer  for  want  of  food,  shelter,  or 
clothing,  and  now  that  they  are  free  I  would 
shed  my  blood  as  freely  for  either  of  them 
as  I  would  in  my  own  defense. 

"  They  nobly  repay  our  care  and  affection. 
I  am  obliged  at  times  to  be  away  from  home 
at  night,  and  unfortunately,  under  the  changed 
conditions  which  freedom  of  the  negro  has 
brought  about,  no  man  can  safely  leave  his 
wife  at  night  unprotected.  It  was  not  so  be- 
fore the  war.  Every  woman  in  this  State 
was  as  safe  from  molestation  at  the  hands  of 
a  slave  before  and  even  during  the  war,  as 
if  she  had  been  guarded  by  a  legion  of  angels; 
but  now  I  would  no  more  leave  my  wife  at 
night  unprotected  against  villainous,  lecher- 
ous negroes,  than  I  would  leave  her  in  this 
house  were  it  in  flames. 

"  So  when  I  am  obliged  to  be  away,  all 
that  is  necessary  for  me  to  do  is  to  tell  Ned, 
and  he  spreads  his  bed  by  the  door  of  his 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    31 

mistress's  room  in  the  hall,  and  is  her  sen- 
tinel and  guard,  and  she  sleeps  with  a  feeling 
of  perfect  safety,  because  she  knows  Ned 
would  die  in  her  defense.  Woe  be  to  the 
man,  white  or  black,  who  approaches  this 
house  with  evil  design  while  that  brave,  faith- 
ful, stalwart  old  '  nigger '  stands  guard  over 
the  mistress  he  loves  better  than  his  own  life. 

"  No,  you  need  not  apologize  for  talking 
with  Ned.  I  understand,  and  give  you  carte 
blanche  to  ask  him  about  any  matter  relating 
to  my  family,  or  the  history  of  this  neighbor- 
hood or  county." 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  In  view  of  the  novelty 
of  my  position,  and  of  my  utter  ignorance  of 
many  things  of  which  I  desire  to  be  correctly 
informed,  I  esteem  your  permission  a  great 
favor.  I  know  already  that  I  have  heard 
and  read  much  that  was  not  true,  and  I  have 
no  doubt  that  Ned  can  set  me  right  upon 
many  matters.  I  accept  your  invitation  to 
stay  longer  with  much  pleasure.  Such  hos- 
pitality to  me,  a  '  Yankee,'  at  the  hands  of  a 
southern  family,  I  never  dreamed  of,  and  I 
am  deeply  grateful  for  it." 

"  I  am  sure,"  said  Mrs.  Marshall,  smiling, 
"  you  are  entirely  welcome.  The  pleasure  is 
on  our  side;  the  favor  you  confer.  We  see 
very  few  people  except  our  friends  and  im- 
mediate neighbors,  and  a  visitor  from  the 
North  whom  we  could  or  would  entertain  in 
recent  years  has  been  very  rare,  and  it  is  a 


32    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

great  pleasure  to  have  a  northern  gentleman 
under  our  roof." 

In  view  of  the  position  in  which  the  guest 
found  himself,  his  mind  naturally  dwelt  on 
that  great  conflict  which  was  only  a  few 
years  in  the  past. 

"  Colonel  Marshall,"  he  said,  "  the  further 
I  get  away  from  the  war  the  more  terrible  it 
seems,  but  I  never  did  appreciate  what  it 
meant  to  you  people  of  the  South  till  I  trav- 
eled over  the  route  of  the  northern  army. 
Now  I  know  that,  great  as  was  the  material 
and  financial  loss,  it  was  nothing  compared 
with  the  loss  of  the  noble  lives  and  the  sorrow 
visited  upon  so  many  hearts  and  homes ;  how- 
ever, sir,  I  suppose  it  may  be  said  that  the 
war  was  inevitable. 

"  From  the  very  foundation  of  the  Govern- 
ment there  were,  and  have  been,  two  different 
schools  of  political  thought,  two  parties  who 
held  diametrically  conflicting  theories  of  gov- 
ernmental power  and  constitutional  construc- 
tion, and  their  differences  of  opinion  extended 
even  to  the  construction,  meaning,  and  scope 
of  the  decisions  of  the  highest  court  in  the 
land,  and  it  is  not  surprising  that  from  the 
friction  of  opposing  views  the  flames  of  war 
were  generated. 

'  The  men  of  the  North  fought  to  save  the 
Union  and  sustain  the  theories  and  conten- 
tions which  one  party  deemed  vital  to  the  pres- 
ervation of  the  Union,  while  your  people 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENT'MAN     33 

went  to  war  to  vindicate  the  southern  theory 
of  government  and  the  correctness  of  judicial 
decisions  of  eminent  southern  judges." 

"  Pardon  me,  Mr.  Standwick,"  said  Mrs. 
Marshall,  "  and  permit  me  to  say  in  all  kind- 
ness that  you  have  fallen  into  error  which  has 
often  found  expression,  but  which  gains  no 
title  to  respect  by  frequent  repetition,  and  I 
must  express  my  earnest  dissent  from  your 
views.  The  South  did  not  go  to  battle  to 
sustain  any  man,  or  any  party's  theory  of 
constitutional  construction  or  governmental 
power,  or  to  vindicate  the  correctness  of  the 
decisions  of  any  court.  I  sent  three  sons  to 
the  war.  One  came  back  maimed  for  life; 
two  fell  in  battle,  and,  I  am  proud  to  say, 
fell  in  the  very  forefront  of  the  fighting,  and 
I  know  they  did  not  give  their  lives  to  sustain 
the  holding  of  any  statesman  or  judge.  They 
gave  no  thought  to  any  such  question;  but  in 
common  with  all  those  who  stood  with  them 
on  the  fighting  line,  they  fought  to  defend 
their  native  land,  the  homes  of  their  living 
and  the  graves  of  their  dead,  against  an  in- 
vading foe. 

"  They  did  not  stop  to  consider  whether 
that  foe  came  from  beyond  the  Potomac  or 
beyond  the  sea,  or  whether  he  spoke  the  same 
or  an  alien  tongue.  They  heard  the  call  for 
an  army  of  invasion;  they  heard  the  tramp 
of  that  army;  and  my  boys,  and  the  boys  of 
tens  of  thousands  of  other  southern  mothers, 


34    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

went  forth  to  plant  themselves  between  that 
advancing  army  and  all  they  held  nearest  and 
dearest.  They  were  not  moved  by  a  desire 
to  destroy  the  Union,  which  was  in  a  great 
measure  the  work  of  their  illustrious  country- 
men of  the  South;  but  by  the  desire  and  pur- 
pose to  repel  invasion  of  the  land  of  their 
birth;  but  if  the  defense  of  that  land  involved 
destruction  of  the  Union  they  did  not  pause 
on  that  account. 

"  The  duty  they  owed  to  their  consciences, 
to  the  land  they  loved,  and  to  home  and 
kindred,  transcended  every  other  obligation, 
and  defense  of  their  action  rests  upon  the  im- 
pregnable ground  that  they  fought  in  defense 
of  their  homes  and  firesides,  a  motive  and  a 
purpose  infinitely  nobler,  stronger,  and  holier 
than  defense  of  any  theory  of  government  or 
vindication  of  the  correctness  of  any  judicial 
decree.  My  sons  gave  up  their  lives  out  of 
very  love  of  country,  and,  Mr.  Standwick, 
that  is  the  noblest  and  most  unselfish  emotion 
that  ever  stirred  a  human  heart,  and  by  the 
chords  of  that  love  their  hearts  were  bound  to 
the  throne  of  God  itself." 

Mr.  Standwick  listened  with  interest  and 
astonishment  to  the  earnest  words  of  his 
hostess.  She  had  spoken  with  deep  feeling, 
and  when  she  ceased,  tears  gathered  in  her 
clear,  gray  eyes;  and  after  a  moment's  silence 
she  continued : 

"  Please  pardon  me;  I  fear  my  feelings  and 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    35 

the  memories  of  the  past  betrayed  me  into 
speech  that  may  possibly  have  wounded  you; 
if  so,  I  assure  you  I  did  not  intend  to  do  so. 
Even  were  you  not  my  guest,  I  would  not,  for 
any  consideration,  say  anything  that  could 
possibly  wound  your  feelings,  or  be  construed 
as  a  reflection  upon  the  actions  of  those  with 
whose  purposes  and  achievements  you  were  in 
sympathy." 

"  My  dear  Madam,"  said  Mr.  Standwick, 
"  I  trust  I  appreciate  your  feelings.  You 
have  said  nothing  to  wound  or  offend,  but  you 
have  put  the  case  of  the  South  before  me  in  a 
light  in  which  it  was  never  before  presented 
to  me.  I  sincerely  desire  to  know  the  truth, 
and  while  it  is  unlikely  that  my  convictions 
will  be  changed,  I  assure  you  I  entertain  noth- 
ing but  respect  for  yours,  and  I  honor  the 
memories  of  your  gallant  sons  who  died  for 
what  they  believed  to  be  right." 

"  Now  you  must  pardon  me,  Mr.  Stand- 
wick,"  said  Colonel  Marshall,  smilingly,  "  if 
I  take  part  in  the  discussion  which  you  and 
my  very  southern  wife  have  gotten  into.  I 
feel  pretty  sure  that  you  will  believe  that  how- 
ever effective  the  process  of  reconstruction 
may  have  been  in  some  quarters,  that  it  cer- 
tainly has  had  no  effect  upon  at  least  one 
southern  woman;  and  Mrs.  Marshall  thinks 
and  feels  as  ninety-nine  out  of  every  hundred 
southern  women  do.  They  are  wholly  im- 
mune against  reconstruction  laws.  A  '  re- 


36    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

constructed  '  southern  woman  no  man  has  ever 
seen. 

"  I  hope  that  you  will  not  misunderstand 
me  when  I  say  that  your  use  of  the  phrase 
1  believed  to  be  right,'  shows  that  you  have 
fallen  into  an  error  which,  like  the  one  to 
which  Mrs.  Marshall  took  exception,  has  been 
often  repeated,  not  only  by  people  in  the 
North,  but  even  by  people  in  the  South. 
Understand  me,  please,  I  do  not  question  the 
honesty  of  conviction  or  sincerity  of  purpose 
of  any  northern  soldier,  and  as  I  entertain  no 
bitterness  of  feeling,  I  will  express  none;  but 
permit  me  to  say  that  my  sons  did  not  die  for 
what  they  only  believed  to  be  right,'  but  for 
what  they  knew  to  be  right,  and  which  was 
right  beyond  the  possibility  of  doubt,  or  suc- 
cessful denial." 

"  But,  Colonel  Marshall,  does  not  your 
statement  reflect  upon  those  who  fought  upon 
the  other  side,  and  in  effect  charge  them  with 
sinning  against  light  and  knowledge?" 

"  I  had  in  my  mind  anticipated  your  ques- 
tion, and  I  unhesitatingly  answer,  No,  not  at 
all.  No  reflection  is  intended  or  implied. 
My  statement  is  entirely  consistent  with  the 
statement  that  I  accord  to  all  who  differed 
from  me  the  same  sincerity  of  belief  and  hon- 
esty of  action  that  I  claim  for  my  sons  and 
myself. 

"  I  am  not  going  to  enter  into  any  discus- 
sion of  the  construction  of  the  Constitution  or 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN     37 

into  an  analysis  of  any  judicial  decree,  for  the 
defense  of  my  sons  and  my  countrymen  of  the 
South  does  not  rest  upon  any  such  ground. 
The  people  of  the  North  and  South  differed 
upon  questions  that  involved  the  most  impor- 
tant rights  of  the  South,  and  that  the  people 
of  the  North  believed  involved  the  continuance 
and  existence  of  the  Union  itself.  Statesmen 
tried  in  vain  to  settle  these  questions  in  the 
forum  of  legislation,  and  war  followed  upon 
failure  to  do  so,  and  the  people  of  the  North, 
in  order  to  enforce  and  apply  their  views  of 
constitutional  construction  and  governmental 
power  and  jurisdiction,  invaded  the  South 
with  an  army.  The  people  of  the  South 
resented  such  an  invasion,  and  it  does  not 
matter  what  differences  between  nations,  or 
between  different  parts  of  the  same  nation,  pre- 
cede hostilities,  or  what  the  grounds  of  differ- 
ence are,  when  the  people  of  one  nation  invade 
the  territory  of  another  nation,  or  the  people 
of  one  section  of  a  nation  invade  the  other 
section,  in  order  to  enforce  their  views  or  put 
in  effect  their  policies,  the  people  whose  land 
is  invaded,  and  who  fight  to  resist  such  inva- 
sion, are  always  right. 

'  This  proposition  is  unanswerable,  because 
those  who  strike  in  defense  of  their  homes 
are  justified  upon  the  same  principles  of  self- 
defense  as  is  the  individual  citizen  who  de- 
fends his  home  or  his  person  or  his  family. 
When  the  defense  of  home  and  wife  and  chil- 


38    NED;   NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

dren  becomes  necessary  against  any  invader, 
come  from  where  he  may,  or  moved  by  what- 
ever motive  he  may  be,  the  act  of  those  who 
resent  such  invasion  is  by  its  own  inherent 
righteousness  and  moral  force  lifted  into  an 
atmosphere  where  the  letter  of  no  statute 
applies,  and  where  no  earthly  tribunal  has 
jurisdiction. 

"  If  we  of  the  South  had  begun  the  war  by 
calling  for  volunteers  to  invade  the  North,  in 
order  to  force  upon  you  our  views  of  constitu- 
tional construction  and  the  rights  of  the 
States,  and  if  we  had  invaded  your  land,  we 
would  have  been  the  aggressors,  and  you 
would  have  been  right  in  resisting,  just  as  we 
were.  This  contention  does  not  involve 
denial  of  the  claim  of  the  men  of  the  North 
that  they  were  prompted  by  honest  and 
patriotic  motives.  I  make  no  such  denial,  for 
too  many  of  them  sealed  their  fidelity  to  their 
convictions  with  their  life  blood,  to  make  such 
denial  reasonable  or  true." 

'  The  statement  to  which  I  took  exception, 
Mr.  Standwick,"  said  Mrs.  Marshall,  "  and 
the  one  which  my  husband  has  just  combated, 
are  both  in  my  judgment  grossly  incorrect: 
but  there  is  another  often  made,  which  is  an 
inexcusable  slander  upon  the  people  of  the 
South,  and  that  is,  that  they  fought  to  save 
their  slaves.  I  would  not  have  given  the 
life,  not  the  little  finger,  of  one  of  my  sons 
for  every  negro  on  earth,  and  it  is  a  cruel 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    39 

slander  to  say  that  the  South  offered  up  the 
lives  of  tens  of  thousands  of  her  young  men, 
the  representatives,  types  and  exponents,  in- 
tellectually and  morally,  of  the  loftiest  civili- 
zation the  world  ever  saw,  to  save  the  value 
of  a  few  ignorant  and  unprofitable  slaves. 

"  The  men  of  the  South  fought  because 
from  their  viewpoint  of  right  and  duty,  they 
would  have  been  base  cowards  and  unfit  to 
be  free,  if  they  had  not  fought.  That  states 
the  South's  position  in  a  few  words,  and  while 
you  do  not  now  agree  with  it,  and  doubtless 
never  will,  it  is  the  fixed  faith  of  the  southern 
people,  and  they  are  willing  to  answer  for  it 
and  stand  upon  it,  before  the  bar  of  history 
and  before  the  judgment  bar  of  God." 

"  My  dear  Madam,"  returned  Mr.  Stand- 
wick,  "  I  do  not  question  your  sincerity,  and 
I  admire  your  fidelity  to  your  convictions  and 
your  cause,  and  since  I  have  already  seen 
and  heard  so  much  that  I  never  dreamed  of, 
and  find  that  my  preconceived  opinions  have 
been  in  a  large  measure  wrong,  I  will  not  pro- 
tract this  discussion." 

"  Good,"  said  Colonel  Marshall ;  "  time 
has  slipped  by  very  fast  and  you  are  doubtless 
fatigued  after  your  ride  and  would  like  to 
retire." 

"  Hester  tells  me,"  said  Mrs.  Marshall, 
"  that  you  have  been  to  your  room,  but  Col- 
onel Marshall  will  escort  you  to  it  again.  I 
will  bid  you  good  night.  I  wish  you  pleas- 


40    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

sant  dreams,  and  ask  your  forgiveness  if  in 
my  fervor  of  feeling  and  speech  I  have 
wounded  your  feelings,"  and  with  a  bow, 
Mrs.  Marshall  left  the  room. 

Colonel  Marshall,  silver  candlestick  in 
hand,  led  the  way  to  the  guest  chamber,  and 
after  seeing  that  everything  necessary  to  the 
comfort  and  convenience  of  his  guest  had  been 
provided,  bade  him  good  night.  The  guest 
soon  fell  into  deep  and  refreshing  slumber. 
The  "  Yankee  "  was  asleep  and  safe  beneath 
the  "  Rebel's  "  roof. 


CHAPTER    III 

WHEN  Mr.  Standwick  awoke  next  morning, 
Ned  was  just  leaving  the  room  after  building 
in  the  open  fireplace  a  fire  which  soon  diffused 
a  cheerful  warmth  over  the  entire  apartment. 
When  he  saw  that  the  guest  was  awake,  Ned 
said: 

"  Good  morning,  boss.  You  must  'scuse 
me  fer  comin'  in  de  room  widout  wakin'  you, 
but  sleep  had  sich  a  grip  on  yer  eyes  dat  I 
couldn't  wake  you  by  knockin',  so  I  jes'  come 
in  anyhow  an'  mek  you  a  fire,  an'  now  I'm 
gwine  down  an'  fetch  you  your  mawnin'  cof- 
fee. I  hope  you  slep'  well." 

Upon  being  assured  that  he  had  rested  well, 
the  old  negro  left  the  room  and  soon  returned 
with  a  tray  on  which  was  a  cup  of  coffee,  a 
pitcher  of  golden  cream,  and  a  bowl  of  cut 
loaf-sugar,  and  he  insisted  that  Mr.  Stand- 
wick  should  drink  the  coffee  while  yet  in  bed, 
assuring  him  that  to  do  otherwise  would  be 
violative  of  immemorial  custom,  and  the  in- 
evitable precursor  of  the  very  worst  luck. 

Mr.  Standwick  good-naturedly  yielded  to 
the  old  negro's  insistence,  and  as  he  handed 
the  cup  back  to  him,  Ned  said, 

"  Now,  boss,  w'en  you  come  down-sta'rs 
41 


42    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

Marster  '11  have  a  little  somepin'  on  de  side- 
bode  stronger  'an  coffee.  He  big  chu'ch 
member  an'  de  bes'  man  de  Lord  ebber  made 
sence  de  worl'  bergin,  but  he  lub  a  little  wine 
fer  his  stummick'  sake,  lak  de  man  I  hears  'em 
read  about  in  de  Good  Book;  'cept  'tain't 
'zactly  wine,  but  hit's  pow'ful  good,  an'  you 
bound  fer  ter  drink  wid  him.  He  b'en  takin' 
his  toddy  in  de  mawnin'  ebber  since  I  knowed 
him,  but  he  ain't  never  b'en  drunk  na'y  time 
yit.  When  you  see  a  suddern  gent'man  w'ut 
don't  drink  mint-julep  in  de  summer  an'  hot 
toddy  in  de  winter  somepin'  sho'  wrong  wid 
him." 

When  Mr.  Standwick  entered  the  sitting- 
room,  Colonel  Marshall  greeted  him  most 
cheerily,  and  offered  him  a  most  delicious 
toddy,  which  despite  New  England  training, 
the  guest  did  not  decline.  As  he  sipped  it,  he 
said, 

"  I  have  often  heard  of  the  southern  cus- 
tom of  the  sideboard  and  morning  toddy,  but 
this  is  my  first  experience  in  enjoyment  of  it, 
and  under  such  circumstances  I  cannot  see  the 
great  harm  and  danger  in  it  that  I  have  often 
heard  pictured." 

"  Well,"  said  Colonel  Marshall,  "  strange 
as  it  may  sound  to  you,  I  am  not  altogether 
in  favor  of  it  as  a  family  custom.  I  know 
the  usual  argument  that  there  was  less 
drunkenness  fifty  years  ago  than  there  is  now 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN    43 

when  the  custom  is  not  so  prevalent  and  men 
drink  elsewhere,  and  that  to  familiarize  boys 
and  young  men  with  the  use  of  liquor  is  safer 
than  to  forbid  them  to  drink  at  all.  From 
observation  and  reading,  however,  I  am  in- 
clined to  believe  that  the  taste  for  liquor  de- 
veloped by  constant  use  of  it  by  fathers  a 
generation  ago  has  been  by  the  law  of  heredity 
transmitted  to  the  young  men  of  this  genera- 
tion, and  if  I  had  sons  to  raise  again  I  should, 
in  order  to  avoid  possible  danger  and  the  ap- 
pearance of  evil,  not  maintain  my  sideboard 
or  take  my  morning  toddy." 

Early  rising  was  an  established  custom  in 
the  Marshall  household,  and  it  was  yet  some 
time  before  breakfast  when  Mrs.  Marshall 
joined  the  gentlemen  in  the  sitting-room  and 
greeted  Mr.  Standwick  and  expressed  the 
hope  that  he  had  rested  well. 

The  breakfast  was  as  delightful  as  the  sup- 
per had  been,  and  when  it  was  finished,  Mr. 
Standwick  said  to  his  hostess, 

"  Madam,  I  have  often  heard  and  read  of 
southern  cooking,  southern  dishes,  and  south- 
ern hospitality,  but  the  half  has  not  been  told. 
I  shall  chant  the  praises  of  the  culinary  skill 
of  southern  colored  cooks  to  Mrs.  Standwick 
to  the  limits  of  prudence;  for  really  our  famed 
New  England  cooking  cannot  excel  that  of 
the  South,  and  I  am  sure  that,  with  you,  hos- 
pitality must  amount  almost  to  a  religion." 


44    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

"  I  think,  Mr.  Standwick,"  Mrs.  Marshall 
replied,  "  that  it  may  safely  be  said  that  our 
cooking,  and  what  you  are  pleased  to  term 
our  hospitality,  must  both  be  in  a  large  degree 
a  matter  of  usage  and  tradition.  Our  family 
cooks,  such  as  the  one  who  prepared  the  meals 
which  I  am  glad  to  see  you  so  enjoy,  descend 
to  us,  as  it  were,  and  the  presiding  genius  of 
my  kitchen  is  a  natural  cook,  a  culinary  artist 
of  instinctive  skill.  Hospitality  is  as  much 
her  pleasure  as  it  is  ours.  The  more  guests 
she  has  to  cook  for,  and  the  more  elaborate 
the  meal,  the  happier  she  is." 

When  the  party  left  the  dining-room  the 
surrey  was  already  at  the  door,  and  Colonel 
Marshall,  turning  to  his  guest,  said,  "  Now, 
Mr.  Standwick,  Mrs.  Marshall  and  I  must  go 
to  our  grandson,  and  we  will  leave  you  in  the 
care  of  Ned  and  Hester.  You  could  not  be 
in  better  hands.  Ned  will  be  your  host  for 
the  day,  and  you  may  rest  assured  he  will  not 
presume  upon  his  position,  but  that  he  will 
keep  his  place  as  becomes  a  self-respecting 
negro  and  servant.  Hester  will  see  that  the 
inner  man  does  not  suffer,  and,  if  you  wish, 
Ned  can  show  you  some  excellent  shooting. 
Should  the  weather  become  inclement  or  any 
contingency  prevent  our  return,  I  have  di- 
rected Ned  to  go  over  and  bring  my  friend 
and  neighbor,  Captain  Alston,  whose  house 
you  see  on  the  hill  opposite  this,  to  spend  the 
night  with  you.  You  will  find  him  a  cour- 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    45 

teous,  cultured  gentleman,  and  a  delightful 
companion." 

"Thank  you,  Colonel;  you  certainly  have 
made  every  provision  for  my  comfort  and 
pleasure.  I  am  sure  I  will  find  Ned  an  enter- 
taining host,  and  I  am  certain  Hester  will  not 
fail  to  do  her  part." 

When  his  host  and  hostess  had  left,  Mr. 
Standwick  said, 

"  Well,  sir,  now  I  would  like  to  have  some 
writing  material,  if  it  is  convenient." 

"  Co'se,  boss,  dere's  plenty  er  pens  an' 
paper  an'  ink  in  de  house  an'  Hester  done  put 
'em  in  de  settin'-room ;  but  'scuse  me,  boss, 
dere  ain't  no  use  er  callin'  me  '  sah.'  You  jes' 
call  me  Ned,  like  Marster  an'  all  de  other 
suddern  gent'men  do.  I'm  used  ter  dat,  but 
dis  here  '  sah  '  bus'ness,  f'um  a  white  man, 
don'  strike  mah  hearin'  right." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Mr.  Standwick,  laugh- 
ing, "  *  Ned  '  it  shall  be.  Now  I  will  go  in 
and  write  to  my  wife." 

Before  beginning  to  write,  Mr.  Standwick 
seated  himself  in  an  arm-chair  near  the  fire 
and  remained  long  absorbed  in  thought.  The 
events  of  the  past  few  hours  had  been  so  un- 
expected, so  interesting,  so  delightful,  so  dif- 
ferent from  anything  he  could  possibly  have 
expected  or  imagined,  that  he  wished  to  col- 
lect his  thoughts  so  that  he  might  write  his 
wife  clearly  and  coherently,  all  he  was  eager 
to  write  her.  After  he  had  recalled  the 


46    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

events  of  the  afternoon,  night,  and  morning, 
and  thought  long  upon  them,  he  took  up  his 
pen: 

"My  dear  wife:  Before  beginning  this 
letter  I  sat  quietly  alone  for  a  long  time 
in  order  to  collect  my  thoughts,  because 
I  am  going  to  relate  to  you  certain  facts 
which  I  am  sure  you  will  find  so  surprising  as 
to  be  almost  incredible.  However,  they  will 
not  be  unpleasant,  for  I  am  well,  and  most 
comfortably  situated. 

"  You  know  my  sentiments  upon  the  ques- 
tion of  slavery  in  the  South,  the  views  I  enter- 
tain concerning  slaveholders,  my  abhorrence 
of  the  entire  system,  and  my  opinion  of  all 
those  connected  with  it.  I  know  how  fully 
you  agree  with  me  upon  these  matters,  and 
how,  like  me,  you  have  learned  to  believe  that 
there  was  only  one  side  to  the  slavery  ques- 
tion, and  that  one  full  of  cruelty  and  barbar- 
ism and  starvation  for  the  slaves,  and  that  all 
slave  owners  were  heartlessly  cruel;  that  all 
slaves  were  driven  day  and  night  with  the 
lash,  and  that  for  all  who  live  in  the  North 
and  differ  from  them  in  sentiment  concerning 
slavery  and  the  late  war,  the  former  slave- 
holders entertain  feelings  of  unrelenting  en- 
mity, and  that  neither  you  nor  I  ever  dreamed 
that  in  my  trip  South  I  would  avow  my  senti- 
ments or  disclose  my  place  of  residence,  and 
then  ask  for  shelter  beneath  the  roof  of  a 
rebel  and  former  slave  owner. 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    47 

"  If  such  a  possibility  had  been  suggested 
to  me  when  I  was  leaving  home  I  should  have 
treated  it  as  most  ridiculous  and  absolutely 
absurd.  When  I  think  of  every  statement  I 
have  written  above  being  true,  I  am  almost 
unable  to  realize  where  I  am.  I  am  mentally 
dazed  by  my  environment  and  by  the  events 
of  the  last  eighteen  hours. 

"  You  will  find  it  difficult  to  helieve  me 
when  I  say  that  I  am  seated  before  a  cheerful 
fire,  in  the  elegantly  appointed  sitting-room  of 
a  stately  colonial  mansion,  the  guest  of  a 
rebel  and  former  slave  owner,  and  that  the 
servants  at  my  disposal  were  all  born  slaves 
on  this  plantation,  and  that  I  am  afraid  even 
to  suggest  paying  for  my  entertainment  lest  I 
give  offense  to  my  most  hospitable  host.  I 
know  that  you  will  at  once  inquire  how  it  all 
happened,  and  how  I  am  treated,  and  what 
manner  of  people  do  I  find  rebels  and  ex- 
slaveholders? 

''  The  answer  to  each  inquiry  is  simple  and 
most  satisfactory.  I  chanced  to  stop  late  in 
the  afternoon  to  rest  by  the  roadside  in  front 
of  this  residence,  the  home  of  Colonel  Hamil- 
ton Marshall,  and  seeing  a  colored  man  stand- 
ing near  the  stable  lot,  spoke  to  him.  He 
replied  most  courteously  and  I  talked  for  a 
considerable  time  with  him,  and  from  the  first 
he  insisted  that  I  must  let  him  put  my  horse 
in  the  stable  and  escort  me  to  the  house,  where 
I  must  spend  the  night,  saying  his  *  Marster ' 


48    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

and  *  Miss  Ma'y '  were  away  in  the  town,  but 
would  be  back  soon;  that  if  I  passed  instead 
of  stopping  for  the  night,  his  master  would 
think  he,  the  colored  man,  had  lost  his  '  man- 
ners.' I  demurred  and  insisted  that  I  would 
wait  until  his  '  marster  '  came,  and  get  his 
permission  to  stop;  but  he  insisted  it  was  not 
necessary  and  that  I  must  go  to  the  house.  I 
finally  consented,  saying  I  would  cheerfully 
pay  for  my  accommodation;  but  the  old  man 
most  earnestly  besought  me  not  to  say  '  pay  ' 
to  his  '  marster,'  for  if  I  did  it  would  give  him 
offense.  Accordingly,  I  have  not  done  so. 

"  Both  Colonel  Marshall  and  his  wife 
greeted  me  courteously  and  welcomed  me  with 
evident  sincerity  and  cordiality  to  their  home. 
No  friend  or  neighbor  in  all  our  home  State 
could  possibly  have  been  more  delightfully 
hospitable.  The  old  negro  told  them  I  was 
a  stranger  and  a  '  Yankee,'  but  seemingly  it 
did  not  in  the  slightest  degree  lessen  the  gra- 
ciousness  of  their  welcome. 

"  From  what  the  negro  said,  and  from  my 
own  observation,  I  conclude  that  my  host  and 
hostess  are  faithful  representatives  of  the  very 
highest  class  of  southern  society,  and  I  may 
say  are  distinctly  typical  southern  aristocrats, 
of  whom  we  have  often  heard. 

'  They  are  educated,  cultured,  and  their 
manners  are  most  charming;  they  are  cordial 
and  hospitable  without  effusiveness  or  osten- 
tation— in  short,  they  are  people  of  breeding 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    49 

and  unexceptionable  manners.  You  cannot 
fail  to  be  impressed  with  their  sincerity,  and 
all  feeling  of  being  a  stranger  is  banished  by 
their  gracious  hospitality. 

"  They  have  talked  freely  with  me  about 
the  war,  into  which  they  sent  their  sons,  two 
of  whom  fell  in  battle  and  the  third  was 
maimed  for  life,  and  they  express  no  regret 
for  their  action,  make  no  apology  or  explana- 
tion, and  seem  to  feel  that  they  did  nothing 
but  their  duty. 

"  They  cherish  with  pride  the  memories  of 
a  cause  which  you  and  I  have  always  believed 
was  a  most  unrighteous  rebellion,  but  which 
they  say  was  a  conflict  waged  to  repel  invasion 
of  their  homes  and  a  defense  of  their  firesides, 
and  that  in  that  conflict  they  gave  no  thought 
to  anything  else.  They  will  not  silently  per- 
mit any  person  to  say  that  the  southern 
soldiers  fought  for  what  '  they  believed  to  be 
right,'  but  take  issue  with  the  statement  at 
once,  and  insist  that  they  fought  for  what  they 
knew  was  right,  and  for  what  was  right  be- 
yond the  possibility  of  doubt  or  denial;  yet 
they  indulge  in  not  one  unkind  or  unchari- 
table word.  It  is  impossible  to  feel  aught 
else  than  respect  and  admiration  for  such 
people. 

"  What  will  doubtless  surprise  you  most, 
my  dear  wife,  is  to  see  how  devoted  the  ex- 
slaves  are  to  their  '  white  folks,'  as  they  call 
them.  Their  admiration  and  affection  for 


50    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

them  seems  unbounded,  and  the  master  and 
mistress  evidently  appreciate  and  reciprocate 
the  affection  of  their  former  slaves.  I  had 
heard  so  much  of  the  lash  and  of  the  master's 
brutality  to  his  slaves  that  I  was  astounded 
to  learn  that  the  ex-slaves  I  have  seen  have 
never  felt  a  blow  or  suffered  a  moment  for 
food,  shelter,  or  any  comfort,  and  I  feel  sure 
that  no  possible  temptation  could  be  put  be- 
fore them  that  would  induce  them  to  leave 
their  former  owners.  Then,  too,  what  may 
also  surprise  you,  the  old  negro  speaks  of  all 
his  race,  himself  included,  as  '  niggers,'  never 
saying  '  negro  '  or  '  colored  man.' 

"  Nothing  that  we  have  ever  heard  or  read 
of  southern  hospitality  has  exaggerated  or 
even  equaled  the  reality,  and  I  am  sure  that 
the  people  under  whose  roof  I  am  an  honored 
and  grateful  guest,  were  never  brutal  or  un- 
kind to  a  slave  or  to  any  other  person. 

'  They  are  proud,  it  may  be  said,  almost 
to  haughtiness,  but  it  requires  but  a  glance  to 
tell  that  my  host  is  a  gentleman  in  the  broad- 
est and  best  sense  of  that  term,  and  that  his 
wife  is  a  gracious  and  cultured  lady.  As  I 
have  already  said,  I  have  every  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  they  are  true  representatives  of  a 
class  that  you  and  I  have  been  taught  to  be- 
lieve lived  in  an  atmosphere  of  cruelty  and 
tortured  slaves  to  gratify  brutal  instincts. 

"  While  my  views  as  to  the  evils  and  in- 
justice of  slavery  have  not  undergone  any 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN    51 

change,  and  most  likely  will  not,  I  freely  con- 
fess, my  dear  wife,  that  my  opinions  of  south- 
ern slaveholders  and  the  relations  existing 
between  them  and  their  former  slaves,  have 
within  a  few  hours  undergone  a  radical  and 
revolutionary  change,  as  would  yours  if  you 
were  situated  as  I  am.  What  I  have  seen 
and  heard  and  felt  within  the  past  eighteen 
hours,  has  been  so  utterly  different  from  what 
I  had  ever  dreamed  to  be  within  the  range  of 
possibility,  has  been  so  surprising,  so  agree- 
able and  so  instructive,  and  has  had  the  effect 
so  to  overturn  preconceived  opinion,  that  it 
has  left  me  in  a  state  of  mind  difficult  to 
describe. 

"  However,  my  dear  wife,  I  am,  as  I  have 
said,  most  delightfully  situated,  and  what  is 
more,  I  have  reason  to  believe  I  will  be  able 
while  here  to  bring  to  a  successful  end  the 
mission  upon  which  I  came,  and  be  able  to 
learn  the  fate  of  those  who  were  so  dear  to 
us.  Trusting  this  expectation  may  be  real- 
ized, and  wishing  that  you  were  here  to  share 
with  me  the  delightful  hospitality  and  society 
I  am  enjoying,  I  am,  most  affectionately  your 
husband, 

"EDWARD  B.  STANDWICK." 


CHAPTER    IV 

WHEN  his  letter  was  finished,  Mr.  Standwick 
went  out  into  the  genial  sunshine.  The  heavy 
frost  had  vanished,  the  sun  shone  brightly 
from  a  cloudless  sky,  and  the  air  was  crisp 
and  bracing.  He  found  Ned  basking  in  the 
sunshine  on  the  front  steps. 

"  Well,  Ned,  you  seem  to  be  a  gentleman 
of  elegant  leisure." 

"  Well,  boss,  ef  dat  means  I  ain't  got  much 
ter  do,  you  is  right.  I  ain't  got  so  mighty 
much  ter  do,  'cept  ter  go  ober  ter  de  fiel'  now 
an'  den  ter  see  how  dem  free  niggers  is  gittin' 
erlong  pickin'  cotton.  Dey  is  pow'ful  ag- 
gervatin',  'speshully  dese  new  niggers.  De 
ole  niggers  w'ut  b'longed  ter  Marster  'fo'  de 
wah  '11  wu'k,  but  dese  young  an'  sorter  eddi- 
cated  niggers  is  scan'lous  lazy  an'  triflin'." 

"  But  you  must  make  allowance  for  them ; 
they  will  do  better  when  they  get  more  edu- 
cation and  become  more  like  the  white  folks." 

"  Dat's  gwine  ter  be  a  long  time,  boss. 
Mebbe  it'll  be  so  some  er  dese  days,  but  you 
ner  me  ain'  gwine  ter  lib  ter  see  it.  De 
pnlies'  niggers  w'ut's  any  good  ter  wu'k  now 
is  de  ole-time  'fo'-de-wah  niggers,  w'ut 
wouldn'  know  a  letter  in  de  book  f  urn  a 
52 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    53 

buggy  wheel.  De  mo'  you  eddicates  dese 
young  new  niggers,  de  less  'count  dey  is. 
Mebbe  ef  you  give  'em  heap  er  1'arnin'  so  dey 
kin  1'arn  de  udder  niggers  in  de  big  schools, 
it  '11  do  'em  good;  but  w'ut  liT  haid-1'aniin' 
an'  book-1'arnin'  dey  gits  now  jes'  spiles  'em 
fer  fiel'-han's,  an'  dats  all  dey  fitten  fer." 

"  Well,  Ned,  you  must  admit  that  education 
will  improve  anybody." 

"  No,  sah ;  it  ain'  improve  na'y  nigger  dat 
ever  I  see  yit.  De  Yankee  army  ain'  hardly 
lef  heah  'fo'  a  lot  er  white  'omans  come  down 
heah  fum  de  Norf  an'  'mence  ter  teach  dese 
young  niggers  ter  read  an'  write.  Dey  say 
dey  gwine  ter  '  elervate '  'em — I  b'liebe  dat's 
de  wu'd  dey  spoke.  Well,  some  er  dem 
young  niggers  was  sharp  ez  er  briar,  an'  dey 
1'arn  ter  write  quick;  den  dey  quit  school,  an' 
dey  write  too  much.  Dey  han's  an'  dey 
haids  b'en  eddicated,  but  dey  hearts  ain't 
nebber  b'en  tetched,  an'  dey  was  wuss  off  'an 
dey  was  widout  eddication,  'ca'se  dey  ain' 
think  nuttin'  'tall  er  writin'  some  white  man's 
name  ter  er  note  er  ter  er  order  on  de  stoah 
w'en  dey  wan'  money  er  goods,  an'  jes'  lots 
men  went  ter  de  pen'tenshy  fer  fo'g'ry. 
Boss,  I  tell  you  de  truff,  dar's  'nuff  ha'f-eddi- 
cated  niggers  in  de  pen'tenshy  fum  dis  county 
fer  writin'  some  odder  man's  name  on  notes 
an'  orders,  ter  wu'k  dis  plan'ashun.  Dat's  er 
f  ack,  an'  anybody  '11  tell  you  so  w'ut  libs  'roun' 
dese  parts.  I  hope  some  er  dese  days  dey  '11 


54    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

eddicate  niggers  diff'unt  dan  w'ut  dey  do  now, 
'ca'se  dey  ain'  doin'  'em  no  good  de  way  dey 
gibs  'em  1'arnin'  now." 

"  Why,  you  don't  seem  to  have  a  very  high 
opinion  of  your  own  race.  We  have  some 
colored  people  in  the  North  you  might  like 
better." 

"  Now,  boss,  'scuse  me,  but  please,  sah, 
don'  misonnerstan'  me.  I  ain'  got  nothin'  'tall 
'g'inst  mah  race.  I'se  a  nigger  jes'  lak  de 
balluns  on  'em,  an'  I  know  dey  ain'  had  much 
chance,  an'  I  ain'  er  blamin'  'em  er  'busin' 
'em;  but  dar  ain'  much  diff'unce  'twix'  nig- 
gers. Boss,  I  'speck  you  gwine  ter  be  heah 
fer  sebb'ul  days  an'  I  spec  I  gwine  ter  talk  er 
heap  ter  you  'bout  niggers,  speshully  'bout 
yaller  niggers,  an'  I  hope  you  gwine  ter  on- 
nerstan'  me. 

"  I  don'  mean  ter  say  dat  all  de  niggers  is 
mean  er  triflin',  'ca'se  dey  ain'  by  er  long  shot. 
Dar  is  lots  er  good  niggers,  an'  wu'kkin'  nig- 
gers an'  hones'  niggers,  but  dar's  a  lot  wu't 
won'  wu'k  an'  it  ain'  ve'y  s'prizin',  'ca'se  dey 
al'ays  b'en  tuk  keer  ob ;  dey  ain'  had  ter  think 
fer  deyselves,  an'  'ca'se  it  look  lak  ter  dem 
dat  de  white  folks  didn'  wu'k,  dey  think  dey 
mustn'  wu'k,  'ca'se  dey's  free. 

"  Dar's  good  yaller  niggers,  too,  but  in 
ginurl  dey  ain'  no  'count.  It  'pears  lak  dey 
got  all  de  bad  p'ints  er  dey  daddy  an'  mammy, 
an'  none  er  dey  good  uns;  but  some  un  'em  is 
good  niggers.  I  heah  white  folks  say  de 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENT'MAN    55 

'cepshun  proob  de  rule,  but  I  cain't  onnerstan' 
dat  kin'  er  talk.  How  somepin'  w'ut  ain't 
somepin'  kin  proob  somepin'  ter  be  so,  is  too 
much  f er  me ;  but  howsomebber  dat  may  be,  er 
yaller  nigger  er  a  black  nigger  is  a  nigger. 
Boss,  sho'  's  you's  bo'n,  dar's  a  mighty  big 
diff'unce  'twix'  er  white  man  an  'er  nigger, 
mo'  'n  dey  is,  ef  dat  kin  be,  'twix'  Marster 
an'  one  er  dem  san'lappers  ober  yon'er  in  de 
pine  woods. 

"  Look  at  de  foot  ob  a  quality-man,  lak 
Marster!  Ef  he  put  his  bar'  foot  on  de 
groun',  it  don'  tetch  nowhar  'ceptin'  de  heel 
an'  de  ball  er  de  foot  'hin'  de  big  toe,  but  de 
holler  ob  a  nigger's  foot  mek  a  hole  in  de 
groun'. 

11  I  ain't  got  no  eddication,  neider  de  lang- 
widge  ter  'splain  w'ut  I  mean,  but  I  don'  mean 
nuttin'  'gin  mah  race.  Dey  ain'  ter  blame 
fer  bein'  ez  dey  is;  but  it  '11  be  er  long  time 
'fo'  dey  is  gwine  ter  lib  lak  white  folks.  I  see 
niggers  come  right  f'um  Afferky  whar  niggers 
b'en  free  sence  Adam  was  bo'n,  an'  soon  dey 
git  heah  dey  'mence  lookin'  fer  snakes  ter  eat 
an'  gwine  on  'bout  '  hoodoo  '  an'  '  voodoo,' 
an'  de  lak  er  dat. 

"  Dar  ain'  no  mo'  use  er  tryin'  ter  run  de 
guberment  wid  niggers  'an  'tis  ter  try  ter  beat 
er  thurrerbred  wid  er  plow-hoss.  'Fo'  de 
wah  Marster  mighty  nigh  run  de  guberment, 
an'  mek  mos'  er  de  laws,  an'  'bout  two  hun- 
derd  niggers  was  mekin'  cotton  an'  co'n  on  dis 


56    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

place;  but  now  w'en  'lection  day  come  dey  all 
quit  de  fiel'  'cept  a  few  ole  niggers,  an'  bre'k 
off  ter  town  ter  vote,  an'  dey  don'  know  no 
mo'  'bout  w'ut  dey  doin'  dan  er  house-cat 
know  'bout  playin'  er  pianny." 

"  Why  do  you  say  '  niggers,'  Ned?  Why 
not  say  '  negroes,'  or  'colored  folks  '  ?  " 

"  'Ca'se  I  calls  'em  w'ut  dey  is,  an'  w'ut 
dey  calls  deyselves.  Boss,  you  go  down 
yon'er  ter  de  quarters  an'  ax  a'y  nigger  you 
see  whar  some  udder  nigger  is,  an'  he  gwine 
ter  say,  '  Dat  nigger  right  here  som'er's,'  er 
'Dat  nigger  jes'  gone';  howsomebber  it 
may  be,  an'  ef  dey  gits  ter  fightin',  which  dey 
in  ginurly  does,  an'  you  ax  w'ut's  de  matter, 
de  nigger  you  ax  '11  say,  '  Jes'  a  lot  er  dem 
niggers  fightin'.'  I  don'  mean  no  disrespec' 
ter  'em  by  callin'  'em  niggers,  but  far  as  de 
niggers  whar  you  lib  is  consarn,  boss,  I  done 
al'ays  'serb  dat  er  nigger's  er  nigger,  whedder 
he  lib  in  de  Norf  er  de  Souf,  er  de  Eas'  er  de 
Wes'.  I  b'en  in  de  Norf,  an'  I  see  plenty  er 
niggers  dar,  an'  dey  jes'  lak  udder  niggers, 
'cept  dey  call  deyselves  free." 

"  When  were  you  in  the  North?  " 

"  Boss,  I  b'en  dar  mighty  nigh  ebber'  year 
'fo'  de  wah.  Marster  and  Miss  Ma'y  go  up 
dar  to  N'  Yawk  an'  Nagry  Falls  an'  Can- 
nerdy,  an'  tek  Hester  an'  me  erlong  ter  wait 
on  'em,  an'  I  see  lots  er  niggers." 

'  Why  didn't  you  stay  there  and  be  free? 
Didn't  you  know  you  could  have  done  that?  " 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    57 

"  Yes,  sah;  I  knowed  dat;  but  w'ut  I  wan- 
ter  stay  fer?  Marster  an'  Miss  Ma'y  wa'n't 
gwine  stay,  an'  I  know  I  ain'  gwine  be  sip- 
perate'  f'um  Marster,  an'  I  sw'ar  Hester 
gwine  die  'fo'  she  le'be  Miss  Ma'y,  so  dar 
you  is.  Ef  mah  Marster  ain't  gwine  stay, 
neider  mah  Mistiss,  nur  mah  wife,  I  sho' 
ain't  gwine  stay. 

"  Dar  wa'n't  na'y  nigger  I  see  up  dar  well 
off  ez  me;  an',  boss,  I  wanter  tell  you  de 
currissest  thing  dat  ebber  was.  I  seed  one 
HT  didapper  yaller  nigger  up  dar  waitin'  on 
de  table  at  de  hotel.  He  was  mighty  nigh 
white,  an'  he  axed  me  ef  I  was  gwine  back  to 
de  Souf  wid  Marster.  I  say  ob  co'se;  I  got 
er  good  house  an'  plenty  ter  eat  an'  ter  w'ar, 
an'  my  Marster  an'  Mistiss  gwine  tek  good 
keer  er  me  ef  I  was  sick  de  res  er  mah  life.  I 
gwine  back  an'  I  mighty  glad  ter  go  at  dat. 
Den  he  say,  '  Mebbe  I  come  ter  de  Souf  some 
er  dese  days,  an'  ef  I  do  mebbe  I  call  ter  see 
dat  purty  young  lady  w'ut  you  call  Miss 
Lucy.'  'W'ut  dat  you  say?'  I  ax  him — I 
cain't  b'liebe  I  onnerstan'  him  right.  Den  he 
say,  '  I  sayed  ef  I  go  ter  de  Souf  mebbe  I  call 
on  yo'  purty  young  mistiss.  I  mighty  nigh 
white  ez  anybody,  an'  ain't  I  tolerbul  good 
lookin'?' 

"  Den,  boss,  I  got  mad  thu'  an'  thu'.  I 
looked  at  dat  nigger  fer  er  minnit  jes'  lak 
rattlesnake  look  at  cat  squ'r'l  ter  cha'm  him; 
den  I  say,  '  You  damn  little  yaller  fool ! ' 


58    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

Boss,  I  chu'ch  member  an'  say  mah  pra'rs,  but 
I  fergit  my  'ligion  dat  time.  I  say,  '  You  talk 
'bout  callin'  on  mah  young  mistiss,  an'  I'll  git 
my  ban's  on  yer,  an'  ef  I  do  I'll  crack  yer 
neck.  I  tell  yer  right  now,  nigger,  you's 
'lectioneerin'  fer  a  fun'al,'  an'  I  lef  him  right 
dar,  an'  I  ain't  never  speck  ter  see  him  erg'in; 
but  I  did,  an'  whar  it  was  I  see  him,  you 
reckon?  " 

"  Really,  I  have  no  idea." 

"  I  seed  him  right  heah  on  dis  place,  an' 
he  was  heah  w'en  de  nigger  so'gers  lak  ter 
bu'n  dis  ve'y  house.  It  was  de  time  w'en 
Marse  Arthur  Stan'ick,  dat  was  er  'Fed'rit 
cap'n,  an'  Cap'n  Chawles  Stan'ick,  who  was 
er  Yankee  cap'n,  meet  right  heah  jest  atter 
Cap'n  Chawles  an'  his  mens  done  sabe  dis 
house. 

"  Dat  sho'  was  a  turrerbul  time,  boss ;  de 
wuss'  time  I  ebber  seed  sence  I  was  bo'n.  Dey 
sot  fiah  ter  dis  house  whar  Marster  fotch  Miss 
Ma'y  w'en  she  was  de  beauterfullest  bride  dat 
ebber  was  in  de  worl' ;  all  dey  chillun  was  bo'n 
in  it,  an'  all  de  picters  ob  dey  gran'  kin-folks 
was  in  dar.  Marse  Alf'ed  an'  Marse 
Willyum  dat  was  kilt  in  de  wah  laid  right  in 
dar  in  de  parlor  in  dey  coffins,  an'  mah  boy 
Tom  w'ut  was  kilt  in  de  wah  'long  er  his 
Marse  Willyum  laid  in  dar  in  his  coffin. 

"  Miss  Lucy  died  right  in  dar  an'  de  angels 
was  er  waitin'  fer  her.  She  was  too  purty  an' 
too  sweet  ter  lib  on  de  yearth,  an'  God  sont  de 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENT'MAN    59 

angels  atter  her  an'  tuk  her  fer  hisse'f,  an' 
spite  er  all  dat,  dem  niggers  sot  fiah  ter  dis 
ve'y  house ;  but  thank  de  Lawd  dey  didn'  bu'n 
it.  Cap'n  Chawles  an'  his  mens  got  heah  an' 
put  out  de  fiah,  an'  his  mens  did  sho'  pile  up 
dem  nigger  so'gers." 

If  Ned  had  not  been  so  moved  in  his  recital 
by  the  memory  of  that  day  of  horror  he  might 
have  noticed  that  when  he  mentioned  the 
names  of  Arthur  and  Charles  Stanwick,  his 
guest  started  as  if  he  had  received  a  shock; 
but  he  almost  instantly  recovered  his  com- 
posure, and  a  close  observer  could  have  seen 
on  his  face  an  expression  of  relief  that 
amounted  almost  to  joy. 

"  How  did  the  two  captains  chance  to  meet, 
and  how  did  Captain  Charles  save  the 
house?"  Mr.  Standwick  asked. 

"  Well,  boss,  dat's  a  long  story,  an'  I 
'bleeged  ter  go  in  de  fiel'  now,  an'  see  w'ut 
dem  free  niggers  is  er  doin' ;  but  ef  you  please, 
sah,  I'll  tell  you  dat  story  ter-morrer  er  de  nex' 
day." 

"Very  well,  I  will  excuse  you  of  course; 
but  here  comes  a  colored  boy  with  a  note." 

Approaching  them  with  his  hat  in  his  hand, 
the  boy  said, 

"  Colonel  Marshall  tol'  me  ter  brung  dis 
heah  an'  gib  it  ter  you,  Unker  Ned,  an'  tell 
you  ter  gib  hit  ter  de  gen'man  w'ut's  stayin' 
heah."  Ned  took  the  note  and  handed  it  to 
Mr.  Standwick,  who  read  it  as  follows: 


6o    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

"My  dear  Mr.  Standwick:  My  grand- 
son is  much  better,  but  his  father  and  mother 
are  anxious  to  have  us  remain,  and  as  Mrs. 
Marshall  is  not  very  well,  we  will  not  be 
home  to-night.  I  sincerely  regret  that  I  shall 
not  have  the  pleasure  of  being  with  you  to- 
night, but  Ned  will  go  over  and  bring  my 
friend,  Captain  Alston,  to  spend  the  night 
with  you,  and  as  you  are  to  remain  with  us 
for  several  days  yet,  the  pleasure  of  your 
society  for  another  evening  is  not  lost,  only 
postponed.  Captain  Alston  and  my  deputies, 
Ned  and  Hester,  will  see  that  you  are  well 
taken  care  of. 

"  Very  cordially, 

HAMILTON  MARSHALL." 

'  The  Colonel  will  not  be  home  to-night," 
Mr.  Standwick  announced,  when  he  had 
finished  reading  the  letter. 

"  Is  dat  so?  I  sho'ly  hope  little  Marster 
ain't  no  wuss." 

"  Oh,  no,  he  is  better;  but  his  parents  wish 
Colonel  and  Mrs.  Marshall  to  stay,  and  the 
Colonel  says  Mrs.  Marshall  is  not  very  well." 

"  I  'spec'  so  much  ridin'  an'  anzi'ty  'bout 
her  onlies'  gran'son  done  mek  Miss  Ma'y 
kinder  weak.  I  sho'  do  hope  she  don'  be  tuk 
sick  dar.  Ef  she  do,  Hester  gwine  right  dar 
ef  she  hatter  walk,  an'  den  dis  husban'  er  hern 
gwine  ter  foller  her.  You  cain't  tie  me  'way 
ef  my  Mistiss  be  sick.  I  gwine  tek  Marster' 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    61 

saddle-hoss  atter  dinner,  an'  go  over  an'  fetch 
Cap'n  Als'on  ter  see  you,  an  spen'  de  night. 

"  He  sho'  is  a  mighty  fine  man.  He  speak 
saft,  an'  he  pow'ful  perlite;  but  Lor',  boss,  he 
sho'  is  a  fignter.  Dey  say  de  way  he  fit  en- 
durin'  er  de  wah  was  a  caushun,  an'  hit  won' 
do  ter  fool  wid  him  now  nuther.  One  white 
man  done  foun'  dat  out  ter  his  sorrer,  an'  lots 
er  'citement  an'  trubbel  come  outen  dat  white 
man  foolin'  'long  er  Captain  Angus  Als'on." 

"How  was  that?"  asked  Mr.  Standwick. 

"  'Scuse  me,  boss,  I  gwine  tell  yer  'bout  dat 
'fo'  long;  but  it's  er  long  tale,  an'  ef  I  starts 
now  you  gwine  ter  miss  yer  dinner,  an'  Hester 
an'  Dinah — dat's  de  cook — done  spread  dey- 
selves  ter  gib  you  a  dinner  f'um  erway  back. 
Bein's  how  you's  a  stranger  f'um  de  Norf, 
dey  wanter  1'arn  you  sumpin'  'bout  our  folks 
kin'  er  eatin'." 

"  Well,  I  have  already  learned  much  and 
am  willing  to  learn  more.  I  am  sure  there 
could  be  no  more  pleasant  education." 

"  Well,  boss,  you  jes'  walk  in  de  house  an' 
mek  yo'se'f  ter  home,  an'  I  step  down  in  de 
cotton-fiel'  er  few  minnits  an'  see  'bout  dem 
free  niggers,  an'  'g'inst  I  git  back  dinner  be 
ready." 

Mr.  Standwick  was  adding  a  few  lines  to 
the  letter  to  his  wife,  when  Ned  came  in  and 
bowed  profoundly.  "  Dinner  am  ready. 
Walk  in,  sah !  '] 

Mr.   Standwick  was  astounded.     A  veri- 


62    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

table  feast  had  been  spread,  enough  for  a 
score,  yet  so  delicately  cooked  and  tastefully 
served  was  it,  that  it  tempted  the  appetite, 
and  provoked  liberal  indulgence. 

When  Mr.  Standwick  had  finished  his  din- 
ner and  was  sipping  a  delicious  cup  of  coffee, 
and  inhaling  its  delightful  aroma,  he  said  to 
Hester, 

"  Madam,  you  are  a  wonderful  cook." 
Hester  put  her  apron  to  her  face  and  en- 
deavored with  only  moderate  success  to  sup- 
press a  laugh  at  being  addressed  as  "  madam," 
but  her  training  enabled  her  to  regain  her 
composure,  and  she  replied, 

"  Much  erbleeged  ter  yer,  sah;  but  I  hope 
you  'scuse  me,  sah,  but  I'd  ruther  you'd  call 
me  Hester;  dat's  mah  name." 

"  Why,  are  you  not  a  married  woman, 
Ned's  wife?" 

"  Yes,  sah,  dat's  so ;  but  yer  know  it's  all  in 
bein'  usen  ter  sumpin.  I  ain't  usen  ter 
'madam,'  an'  I  is  usen  ter  Hester;  an'  den, 
sah,  I  ain't  de  cook.  No,  indeed,  sah,  I  jes' 
super'ten'.  De  cook's  name  Dinah." 

;'  Well,  I  would  like  to  see  the  cook  who 
cooked  this  elegant  dinner;  may  I  see  her, 
Ned?" 

'  Yes,  sah ;  I  'speck  she'll  come ;  I  dunno  fer 
sho'.  She  pow'ful  modes'  an'  skittish,  but 
she  sho'  is  er  cook  ter  beat  de  ban'  I  She  so 
black,  charcoal  mek  a  white  mark  on  her  face, 
an'  de  chickens  go  ter  roos'  w'en  she  go  in 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN     63 

de  hen-'ous';  but  de  way  she  kin  cook  do 
tek  de  day,  an'  I  gwine  ter  call  her."  Step- 
ping to  the  door  of  the  kitchen,  Ned  called, 
"  Dinah,  come  here  right  now !  " 

"  W'ut  you  want  er  me,  Ned?  "  replied  a 
voice  from  the  kitchen. 

"  De  gen'man  say  he  wan'  see  de  cook  w'ut 
cook  dis  fine  dinner." 

"  Whoopee !  I  sho'ly  mus'  'spon'  ter  dat 
call,"  and  a  black  woman  stepped  into  the 
doorway  of  the  dining-room,  almost  filling  it 
with  her  generous  avoirdupois.  Her  ebony 
countenance  was  in  striking  contrast  with  the 
turkey-red  bandanna  which  surmounted  her 
head,  and  on  seeing  Mr.  Standwick  she 
dropped  a  curtsy.  "  I  ve'y  much  'bleeged  fer 
de  praise  er  me,  sah;  Fse  pow'ful  proud." 

"  You  certainly  deserve  the  praise ;  you  are 
a  great  cook.  If  you  would  go  North  you 
could  get  large  wages." 

"Yes,  sah,  mebbe  so;  but  den  my  white 
folks  wouldn't  be  dar,  en'  I  cain't  leave 
Marster  an'  Miss  Ma'y.  B'en  cookin'  fer 
dem  forty  year,  an'  'speck  ter  keep  on  twell 
I  die." 

"  You  colored  people  are  strange  folks  to 
me.  You  have  been  slaves  all  your  lives, 
liable  to  be  whipped  and  sold,  and  badly 
treated,  and  yet  you  seem  to  love  those  who 
kept  you  in  slavery  as  if  they  were  your 
parents." 

"Li'bul    fer    what,     boss?"    said    Ned. 


64    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

"  Li'bul  ter  be  whipped?  Ef  dar's  a  stripe 
big  ez  a  brumstraw  on  a'y  nigger  in  dis  room 
I  'gree  ter  wuk  fer  you  de  res'  er  my  life. 
Nobody  ain't  never  tetch  na'y  one  er  we-uns, 
an'  dar  wa'n'  'nuff  gol'  in  de  Newnited  States 
ter  get  Marster  ter  sell  eider  one  er  de  th'ee 
in  slav'y  time.  An'  does  you  know,  boss,  dat 
neider  Hester  er  me  er  Dinah  is  ebber  seed  de 
day  w'en  we  didn't  had  plenty  ter  eat  an'  ter 
w'ar.  Ef  yer  don'  know  it,  all  de  same  it's 
er  fac'. 

"  Boss,  you  done  heahed  er  heap  'bout  de 
white  folks  an'  niggers  down  heah  in  de  Souf 
w'ut  ain't  so ;  an'  we-uns  all  is  glad  you  come 
down  dis  way  so  you  kin  see  fer  yerse'f." 

"  I  am  glad  too  that  I  came,  Ned.  I  am 
ready  to  believe  anything  good  you  say  about 
Colonel  and  Mrs.  Marshall;  but  your  love  of 
those  who  kept  you  in  slavery  puzzles  me." 

"  Boss,  'twan't  dey  fault.  Dey  tuk  us  lak 
dey  foun'  us.  Dey  ain't  mek  us  slaves,  an' 
dey  done  de  bes'  dey  could  wid  us,  an'  Gawd 
knows  dey  wuz  good  an'  kin'  ter  all  dey 
niggers." 

"  I  am  sure  that  is  true,  because  I  know 
they  could  not  be  unkind  to  any  one.  Now  I 
am  greatly  obliged  for  this  splendid  dinner 
and  I  want  each  of  you  to  take  this  little  gift," 
and  he  laid  a  small  gold  piece  in  the  palm  of 
each  of  the  three. 

Ned  and  Hester  bowed  and  thanked  him, 
while  Dinah  dropped  a  curtsy  and  continued 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    65 

to  bow  until  Mr.  Standwick  reached  the  door, 
and  then  she  said,  "  Boss,  ter-morrer  I  gwine 
ter  git  you  a  dinner  sho'  'nuff.  Yer  ain't 
seed  no  dinner  yit.  I  gwine  ter  put  de  liT 
pot  in  de  big  un  an'  den  you'll  see  a  sho'- 
nuff  quality-folks  dinner,  fer  I'se  gwine  ter 
show  you  mah  serbility  ez  er  cook.  I  gwine 
ter  bergin  ter  erupt  up  de  'gregunces  dis 
ebenin'."  And  with  this  deliverance  in  what 
to  the  southern  ear  was  an  entirely  familiar 
dialect,  but  which  to  Mr.  Standwick  was  a 
wholly  foreign  tongue,  Dinah  withdrew  to  her 
kitchen  and  the  guest  went  into  the  sitting- 
room,  wondering  if  it  were  possible  for  her  to 
excel  the  dinner  he  had  already  enjoyed. 


CHAPTER  V 

MR.  STANDWICK  returned  to  the  sitting-room, 
and  Ned,  after  he  had  finished  his  dinner, 
entered  the  room.  "  I  thought,  boss,  mebbe 
you  mout  lak  ter  ride  eroun'  er  bit  an'  see  de 
plan'ashun,  sah.  Guess  yer  ain't  nebber  seed 
no  cotton  growin'  er  bein'  picked  twell  you  rid 
'cross  dis  kentry,  so  I  done  saddle  up  de  liT 
mar'  Redbird  fer  you.  She's  er  singlefooter 
f 'um  taw,  an'  a  saddle-nag  dat's  hard  ter  beat, 
an'  I  hope  you  gwine  'joy  ridin'  her." 

"  I  am  very  much  obliged,  Ned,  but  I  will 
not  ride  till  later  in  the  afternoon.  I  will  go 
out  now  and  enjoy  the  evening  sunshine,  and 
you  can  tell  me  about  how  Captain  Charles 
saved  the  house,  and  about  the  trouble  that 
came  of  somebody  '  foolin'  'long  er  Cap'n 
Als'on,'  as  you  say;  and  then  there  is  some- 
thing else  I  want  to  learn  about,  and  that  is 
how  your  son  came  to  be  killed  in  battle  and 
to  lie  in  the  parlor  in  his  coffin." 

"  Well,  boss,  I  cain't  tell  yer  'bout  all  dem 
'currences  dis  ebenin',  'ca'se  dere  won'  be 
time  'nuff;  but  I  kin  tell  you  right  smart,  en' 
I'll  tell  you  de  res'  ter-morrer  er  nex'  day." 

'  Very  well,  and  if  you  have  no  objection  I 
had  rather  hear  first  about  your  boy." 

'  Well,  boss,  you  see  Hester  an'  me  ain't 
66 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN     67 

nebber  had  but  one  chile,  dat  was  Tom.  He 
was  'bout  five  year  ol'er  dan  his  Marse 
Willyum.  When  Marse  Willyum  was  bo'n, 
Tom  he  wen'  ter  de  big-house  ter  see  de 
new  baby.  He  crope  up  to'rds  de  baid  right 
easy,  an'  Miss  Ma'y  seed  him,  an'  she  say 
right  den  an'  dar,  '  Tom,  I  gwine  gib  you  ter 
your  new  young  Marster,  an'  now  you  b'longs 
ter  him.'  Jes'  so.  Wen  der  baby  got  big 
'nuff  ter  trus'  him  ter  Tom,  Tom  set  by  de 
cradle  an'  rock  it,  an'  some  time  he  lif'  de  baby 
an'  mek  him  laff.  An'  heap  er  times  w'en  de 
baby  be  'sleep  an'  smile  in  he  sleep  'ca'se  de 
angels  be  whisp'in'  ter  him,  Tom  jes'  clap  he 
han's  an'  say,  Ain't  he  de  purties'  baby  dat 
you  ebber  see,  daddy?  ' 

"  Wen  de  baby  could  toddle  'roun'  Tom 
was  a  tolerbul  sizerbul  chap  an'  er  right  good 
nuss,  an'  de  two  growed  up  tergedder;  an' 
dey  paddle  in  de  branch,  an'  dey  climb  trees, 
an'  dey  go  swimmin',  an'  dey  sho'  was  lak  two 
brudders.  Tom  did  set  a  stoah  by  his  young 
Marster.  He  nebber  done  er  thing  'ceptin' 
play  wid  him,  an'  dey  was  de  mischievousist 
pa'r  dat  ebber  yer  see  in  all  de  bo'n  day  er 
yer  life.  Dey  weren't  mean.  Dey  didn't  lie, 
but  dey  was  up  ter  all  kin'  er  boy  pranks  an' 
projickin's. 

"  Dey  wen'  swimmin'  'g'inst  orders,  an'  dey 
git  in  er  hurry  an'  tu'n  dey  sh'ts  wrong  side 
out'ards,  an'  run  sticks  right  fas'  back'rds  an' 
fur'uds  thu'  dey  ha'r  ter  dry  it;  den  Miss 


68    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

Ma'y  gin  'em  bofe  a  curr'in'  wid  er  peach- 
tree  sprout.  Dey  rid  Marster's  saddle- 
hosses,  an'  dey  lots  er  times  clum'  er  hunderd 
feet  atter  a  coon  or  a  squ'r'l,  an'  you  nebber 
see  'em  sip'rated.  Wen  Marse  Willyum 
went  off  ter  de  'cademy  Tom  went  wid  him, 
an'  w'en  he  went  ter  de  wah  Tom  went  wid 
him." 

"  Do  you  say  your  son  went  to  the  army 
with  Colonel  Marshall's  son?  " 

1  Yes,  sah." 

;t  Was  your  boy  killed  on  the  battlefield?  " 

"  Yes,  sah;  he  was  kilt  wid  his  arms  'roun' 
his  young  Marster." 

"  Do  you  tell  me  that  people  like  Colonel 
Marshall  and  his  wife  made  your  son  go  to 
war  and  fight  against  his  friends  who  were 
fighting  to  give  him  freedom?" 

"How  dat,  boss?  'Scuse  me,  please,  sah, 
but  I  r'ally  don'  onnerstan'  w'ut  yer  mean. 
Mek  him  go?  Lor'  bless  yer  soul,  boss,  you 
couldn't  er  tied  him  wid  er  trace-chain  ef  his 
Marse  Willyum  had  gone  an'  lef  him.  He 
didn't  gone  ter  fight,  he  went  ter  wait  on  his 
young  Marster;  but  he  would  er  fit  ef  his 
Marse  Willyum  had  er  tole  him." 

"  Do  you  mean  he  would  have  fought  the 
northern  soldiers  as  his  young  master  did; 
that  he  would  have  fought  men  who  were  try- 
ing to  set  him  free?  " 

"  Of  co'se,  sah.  He  gwine  ter  do  w'ut- 
ebber  his  young  Marster  say  fer  him  ter  do; 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    69 

an'  den  I  dunno  so  well  'bout  his  fightin' 
'g'inst  his  freedom.  Ez  I  onnerstan'  de  bus'- 
ness,  de  Feddul  so'gers  didn'  sot  out  ter  free 
de  niggers.  I  heahed  Marster  say  how  dat 
Mr.  Linkum,  who  Marster  say  was  a  pow'ful 
good  man,  sayed  one  time  dat  ef  dese  folks 
down  here  'ud  quit  fightin'  an'  come  back 
inter  der  Newnyun  lak  dey  was  'fo'  dey  ber- 
gin  ter  fight,  dat  dey  mout  keep  dey  niggers; 
but  howsomebber  dat  mout  er  b'en,  dar  ain't 
no  pusson  made  mah  boy  go  ter  de  wah. 

Marster  ner  Miss  Ma'y  wouldn't  er  sont 
him  'ceptin'  Hester  an'  me  was  both  willin' 
an'  Tom  wanter  go  hisse'f,  'ca'se  Miss  Ma'y 
tole  me  so.  Tom  wanter  go,  an'  w'en  he 
come  back  wid  his  Marse  Willyum  dey  was 
bof  ob  'em  in  dey  coffins. 

"  De  so'gers  put  'em  in  de  ground  right 
whar  dey  died,  an'  mark  de  place,  an'  atter 
de  wah  Marster  fetched  'em  both  home,  an' 
dey  lay  side  berside  in  de  parlor,  an'  dey  sleep 
side  berside  over  yon'er  on  de  hill.  De  paper 
in  town  done  print  all  'bout  mah  boy  gwine 
ter  de  wah  wid  his  young  Marster,  an'  'bout 
how  he  was  kilt,  an'  Miss  Ma'y  an'  Marster 
heap  er  times  reads  it  ter  me.  I  got  it  in 
de  bottom  er  my  chis'  in  mah  house,  an'  ef 
you  'scuse  me  I'll  go  an'  git  it,  an'  I  be  much 
erbleeged  ef  you'll  read  it  ter  me." 

"  Certainly,  I  will  read  it  to  you  gladly.  I 
have  no  doubt  it  will  be  an  interesting  story." 

"  Boss,  it  ain't  no  story,  it's  de  sollum  fac'. 


70    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

It  tetches  mah  heart  'ca'se  it's  'bout  how  mah 
boy  died,  an'  how  he  kep'  his  wu'd." 

"  Oh,  I  understand.  I  don't  doubt  your 
word,  nor  doubt  the  truth  of  what  has  been 
printed.  I  mean  it  is  a  true  story  of  noble 
deeds." 

"  You's  right,  boss,  fer  it  sho'ly  is." 

The  negro  soon  returned  with  a  broad  piece 
of  cardboard  on  which  was  pasted  a  piece  of 
newspaper  a  column  or  more  in  length.  He 
held  it  as  carefully  as  if  every  letter  had  been 
a  diamond,  and  well  he  might,  for  on  no 
record  of  heroism  was  there  ever  graven  the 
recital  of  sublimer  courage,  more  unselfish 
devotion,  or  nobler  fidelity  to  duty. 

He  handed  the  priceless  treasure  to  Mr. 
Standwick,  who  read  it  as  follows: 


'  Since  the  war  began  there  have  been 
many  noble  young  lives  offered  up  in  defense 
of  the  South,  many  hearts  saddened,  and  many 
homes  darkened,  but  with  the  gloom  there 
has  been  blended  much  of  glory,  and  this  good 
county  has  had  her  share  of  both.  But  there 
is  something  peculiarly  pathetic  and  glorious 
in  the  death  of  young  William  Marshall,  who 
fell  in  battle  a  few  days  ago,  and  the  pathos 
and  glory  of  his  fall  is  intensified  by  the  death, 
at  his  side,  of  his  faithful  negro  body-servant, 
Tom. 

"  '  William  was  the  youngest  son  of  that 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN    71 

knightly  Christian  gentleman,  Colonel  Ham- 
ilton Marshall,  who  is  beloved  and  revered 
by  the  entire  citizenship  of  this  State,  and  the 
son  of  as  noble  a  mother  as  ever  gave  her  be- 
loved children  to  their  country,  a  representa- 
tive southern  woman,  the  highest  type  of 
womanhood. 

"  '  William  was  born  and  reared  in  this 
county,  and  was  a  handsome,  noble  young 
fellow,  worthy  of  the  stock  from  which  he 
descended,  and  than  this,  praise  can  find  no 
higher  expression. 

"  '  The  day  that  he  was  eighteen  years 
old,  his  mother,  in  whose  veins  flows  the  blood 
of  generations  of  gentlemen  and  heroes,  said 
to  him,  "  William,  my  son,  you  are  eighteen 
to-day,  and  your  country  needs  you.  Are  you 
ready?  "  Uncovering  himself,  he  bowed  his 
head  and  replied,  "  Yes,  mother,  I  am  ready 
and  anxious  to  go.  Brother  Hamilton  has 
come  home  maimed  for  life,  brother  Alfred 
has  died  in  battle,  and  I  must  fill  the  place 
of  one  of  them."  His  mother  replied,  "  Very 
well,  my  son,  everything  is  ready.  You  can 
leave  this  afternoon." 

'  The  haversack,  the  blankets,  everything 
the  young  soldier  needed  or  could  take,  was 
ready  for  use,  and  upon  each  article  had  fallen 
the  tears  of  his  heroic  mother;  but  when  the 
crucial  hour  of  sacrifice  came,  she  gave  no  sign 
of  anguish. 

"  '  "  Mother,"  William  said,  "  may  I  take 


72    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

Tom  with  me?  We  have  never  been  sepa- 
rated." As  everybody  in  the  community 
knows,  Tom  was  the  only  son  of  Ned,  the 
body-servant  and  carriage-driver  of  Colonel 
Marshall,  and  Hester,  his  wife,  the  maid  and 
constant  attendant  of  Mrs.  Marshall,  two 
negroes  who  have  been  always  justly  respected 
for  their  fidelity,  good  manners,  and  good 
character. 

"  *  Mrs.  Marshall  replied,  "  Son,  I  will  not 
make  Tom  go,  or  permit  him  to  go  unless  he 
wishes  to,  and  not  then  unless  both  his  parents 
consent.  I  have  too  much  affection  for  Ned 
and  Hester,  and  know  too  well  how  a  mother 
feels  at  giving  up  her  boy,  to  send  Tom  with 
you,  unless  they  freely  consent.  I  will  call 
them  and  let  them  decide."  Mrs.  Marshall 
called  to  Hester  to  come  at  once  and  bring 
Ned  and  Tom  with  her,  and  soon  the  trio, 
father,  mother,  and  son,  appeared,  when  Mrs. 
Marshall  said,  "  Ned,  I  have  called  you  and 
Hester  here  to  tell  you  that  William  is  eigh- 
teen to-day,  and  he  is  going  to  start  to  Vir- 
ginia to  join  the  army,  and  he  wants  Tom  to 
go  with  him;  but  I  will  not  make  Tom  go 
unless  both  you  and  Hester  are  entirely  will- 
ing, and  Tom  himself  wants  to  go." 

'  Tom  stood  by,  the  very  picture  of  excite- 
ment, interest,  and  anxiety,  and  it  seemed  as 
if  he  must  speak,  but,  apparently  by  a  great 
effort,  he  restrained  himself  and  waited  for 
his  "  daddy  "  to  speak  first. 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    73 

"  *  "  Miss  Ma'y,"  said  Ned,  "  ef  Marse 
Willyum  want  Tom  to  go  Fse  willin',  'ca'se 
dey  never  is  been  sipperated  in  dey  lives. 
Hester  kin  speak  fer  nerse'f."  "  Ef  Tom 
want  to  go  I  ain't  gwine  try  ter  keep  him," 
agreed  Hester.  "  It's  mighty  good  er  you, 
Miss  Ma'y,  ter  'fuse  ter  sen'  him  bedout  we  be 
willin'.  I  love  Marse  Willyum  mos'  lak  I  do 
Tom,  an'  he  kin  have  Tom  erlong  wid  him  in 
de  wah  ef  he  wan'  him."  Then  Mrs.  Mar- 
shall said,  "  What  do  you  say,  Tom?  "  "  I 
wants  ter  go,  Miss  Ma'y.  I  don'  want  Marse 
Willyum  ter  le'be  me,  'ca'se  I  ain't  gwine 
stay  ef  he  go  bedout  me."  Mrs.  Marshall 
said:  "  Tom,  your  Marse  Willyum  may  go 
into  big  battles,  and  you  might  follow  him 
and  get  killed."  "  I  cain't  he'p  it,  Miss 
Ma'y;  I'd  ruther  be  daid  den  ter  be  sip- 

¥  crated  f'um  Marse  Willyum."  "Well, 
om,  you  may  go."  Whereupon  Tom  fairly 
shouted,  "  Goody  1  Marse  Willyum  an'  me 
gwine  ter  de  wah  tergedder.  Much  er- 
bleeged  ter  you,  daddy  an'  mammy,  an'  Miss 
Ma'y." 

'""Tom,"  said  Mrs.  Marshall,  "come 
here  and  kneel,  and  while  my  hand  lays  on 
your  head  I  want  you  to  make  me  a  promise." 
'  The  young  negro  knelt  on  both  knees 
at  the  feet  of  his  mistress,  with  head  bowed 
low,  and  as  he  did  so  Ned  and  Hester  knelt 
just  behind  him. 

"  '  Mrs.    Marshall,    laying   her   hand   on 


74    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

Tom's  head,  said,  "  Do  you  promise  me  that 
if  your  Marse  William  goes  into  battle  that 
you  will  go  hunt  for  him  as  soon  as  you  can 
go,  and  that  if  you  find  him  wounded,  you  will 
stay  by  him,  and  never  leave  him  while  there 
is  life  in  his  body?  " 

"  *  "  I  does  promise  dat,  Miss  Ma'y,  so 
he'p  me  Gawd!  " 

"  '  "  God  bless  you,  Tom,"  said  Mrs.  Mar- 
shall, "  and  help  you  to  keep  that  promise." 
To  that  wish  Ned  and  Hester  responded  in 
unison,  with  a  fervent  amenl 

" '  The  young  soldier  and  his  faithful 
body-servant  went  to  Virginia,  arriving  just 
in  time  to  go  into  one  of  the  bloodiest  battles 
of  the  war. 

"  '  With  throbbing  heart  Tom  watched  his 
slender  and  boyish-looking,  manly  young 
master,  as  he  took  his  place  in  line,  and  the 
devoted  negro  trembled  as  the  battle  opened 
with  heavy  cannonading,  followed  soon  by  a 
deadly  musketry  fire  in  the  direction  of  which 
he  saw  his  master  move.  The  battle  raged 
for  more  than  two  hours,  but  at  the  first  slack- 
ening of  the  fire,  Tom  started  in  the  direction 
of  the  fighting. 

" '  He  soon  met  many  stragglers  and 
wounded  men,  and  again  and  again  was  di- 
rected to  go  back,  but  he  made  no  response, 
and  though  his  face  was  ashen  with  fear,  his 
great  love  for  his  young  master  nerved  him 
to  heroism  of  the  truest  kind — that  courage 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    75 

which,  despite  terror  and  seeming  imminent 
death,  dares  danger. 

"  '  Bullets  were  thick  in  the  air,  the  artillery 
fire  was  cutting  off  limbs  of  trees  over  his 
head,  and  the  ground  was  covered  thickly 
with  the  wounded,  the  dying  and  the  dead, 
but  he  pressed  on. 

"  '  At  last  he  met  a  member  of  his  master's 
company  whom  he  knew,  and  who  said  to 
him,  "  Go  back,  Tom,  you  must  not  go  in 
there."  The  negro  replied,  "  I  boun'  ter  go, 
boss;  I  done  promise  Miss  Ma'y  an'  I  mus' 
keep  my  wu'd,"  and  creeping  and  dodging 
and  trembling,  he  went  on,  and  soon  he  heard 
near  at  hand  a  voice  that  he  would  have 
known  among  a  million. 

"  '  Shot  and  shell  were  filling  the  air  with 
deadly  hail,  but  he  knew  his  master's  voice, 
and  it  was  calling  piteously  for  water.  Tom 
hastened  to  his  side  with  two  canteens  with 
which  he  had  provided  himself.  What  fol- 
lowed in  the  next  few  minutes  we  have  from 
Henry  Armistead,  a  comrade  of  William's, 
who  lay  wounded  almost  in  arm's  reach  of 
him. 

"  *  The  devoted  servant  found  William 
wounded  beyond  hope  of  recovery,  and 
propped  against  a  large  oak  in  a  half-recum- 
bent position.  He  knelt  beside  his  beloved 
master  and  passed  his  left  arm  about  him. 
"  Oh,  Marse  Willyum,  thank  Gawd  I  done 
foun'  you !  "  and  pressed  the  canteen  to  the 


76    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

parched  lips  of  the  suffering  young  soldier, 
who  drank  long  and  deeply,  and  then  said, 
;<  Tom,  take  the  other  canteen  and  put  it 
down  by  Mr.  Armistead,  and  put  this  one  by 
me,  and  put  my  blanket  between  my  body 
and  the  tree,  and  then  go  back.  I  have  but 
a  little  while  to  live  I  know,  and  you  can  do 
no  more  good  here.  You  have  been  brave 
and  faithful.  Tell  mother  I  loved  her  and 
will  love  her  in  heaven.  Tell  her  I  did  my 
duty." 

"  '  Tom  placed  the  canteen  in  reach  of  Mr. 
Armistead,  and  moved  him  to  make  him  more 
comfortable,  and  then  returned  to  his  master, 
and  put  his  arm  again  about  his  beloved 
form,  and  again  the  unselfish  young  soldier 
said,  "Go,  Tom;  good-by.  You  will  be 
killed  if  you  stay  here.  Go  back  and  take 
my  dying  message  to  father  and  mother. 
Tell  them  I  loved  them  to  the  last." 

"  '  Holding  yet  closer  the  form  of  his  dy- 
ing master,  Tom  said  beseechingly,  "  Marse 
Willyum,  don'  mek  me  go.  I  never  is  disobey 
you  in  all  mah  life,  but  I  cain't  go  now.  I 
done  promise  Miss  Ma'y  dat  I  won'  le'be  you 
while  dere's  life  in  yer  body,  an'  I  mus'  keep 
my  wu'd." 

"  I  know,  Tom,  you  mean  to  be  faithful, 
and  you  have  been  and  I  love  you;  but  I  re- 
lease you  from  your  promise;  go  now  and 
bear  my  message." 

" ' "  Marse    Willyum,    please    fer    Miss 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN     77 

Ma'y's  sake  don'  mek  me  go  now.  You 
wounded  desp'rit,  an'  I'd  ruther  die  dan  le'be 
you  an'  go  back  home  an'  tell  Miss  Ma'y  I 
didn't  keep  my  wu'd,  but  lef  you  ter  die  on 
de  groun'  an'  nobody  ter  hoi'  you  er  git  you 
er  drink  er  water." 

"  *  "  Tom,  it  will  only  be  a  little  while.  Go, 
and  God  bless  you,  Tom !  " 

"  '  Tom  drew  the  slender  form  closer  to 
him,  till  it  rested  against  his  shoulder,  and  as 
he  wiped  away  the  death  damp  from  the 
pallid  brow  he  said,  "  I  done  promise  Miss 
Ma'y  an'  I  mus'  keep  my  wu'd,"  and  as  he 
spoke  he  started,  his  hold  for  a  moment  re- 
laxed, and  a  shudder  ran  through  his  frame. 
The  dying  master  said,  "Tom,  you  are  hit; 
you  are  wounded,  aren't  you  ?  "  The  voice 
that  replied  was  already  husky  and  feeble. 
"  Yes,  Marse  Willyum,  I'se  hit.  We's  gwine 
tergedder.  We  never  '11  be  sipperated  no 
mo',  an'  some  er  dese  days  up  yonder  we'll 
see  Miss  Ma'y  an'  you'll  tell  her  dat  I  kep' 
my  wu'd,"  and  the  black  arms  tightened 
again  in  a  last  loving  hold;  a  quiver  passed 
through  the  frame  of  both  and  each  form 
relaxed  and  rested  against  the  other,  and  both 
against  the  tree,  and  from  that  scene  of  awful 
carnage,  that  field  of  fratricidal  strife  the  two 
passed  up  to  God — the  white  man  and  the 
black,  master  and  slave,  passed  up  to  tell 
"  Miss  Ma'y  "  and  mother  of  a  fidelity  un- 
failing and  a  love  that  outlived  death.' 


78    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

When  Mr.  Standwick  finished  reading 
there  were  tears  in  his  eyes,  and  Ned,  who 
had  stood  with  bowed  head,  looked  up  and 
said  in  earnest,  reverent  tone, 

"  Boss,  my  boy  kep'  his  wu'd;  dat's  de 
p'int,  he  kep'  his  wu'd.  I'd  ruther  he  be  over 
yander,  sleepin'  by  his  young  Marster,  dan 
fer  him  be  libbin'  an'  bre'k  his  wu'd  which 
he  gib  Miss  Ma'y.  He  kep'  his  wu'd,  dat's 
de  p'int. 

'  Now,  boss,  will  you  please  'scuse  me  now? 
My  heart  is  hebby,"  and  as  he  walked  away 
with  bowed  head,  Mr.  Standwick  lifted  his 
hat  in  reverent  salutation  to  the  old  black 
hero. 


CHAPTER   VI 

AFTER  Ned  had  gone,  Mr.  Standwick 
mounted  Redbird  and  rode  across  the  hills  and 
round  and  through  the  plantation. 

The  evening  was  clear  and  cool,  the  sun 
shone  brightly,  there  was  scarcely  a  breath 
of  wind,  and  as  Mr.  Standwick  crossed  the 
narrow  bottom  which  bordered  the  creek  he 
heard  the  barking  of  the  gray  squirrels,  and 
the  long,  mournful,  songlike  note  with  which, 
in  the  fall  when  they  are  feeding  on  nuts, 
their  barking  often  ends. 

From  the  red  oaks  and  water  oaks  acorns 
were  dropping,  and  on  the  edge  of  the  hill 
at  frequent  intervals  hickory  nuts  fell  on  the 
thick  carpet  of  leaves,  which,  touched  by  the 
frost,  had  fallen  and  left  the  trees  thinly 
garbed  and  silhouetted  against  the  sky. 

Far  down  the  valley  stretched  the  cotton- 
field  white  unto  the  harvest,  and  the  scene  was 
so  novel  to  the  New  Englander  that  he 
stopped  his  horse  and  gazed  long  upon  it;  and 
recalling  the  events  of  the  past  two  days  he 
could  almost  imagine  that  the  forms  he  saw 
among  the  cotton  and  at  the  ends  of  the  rows 
were  yet  slaves,  belonging  to  the  splendid 
gentleman  whom  they  yet  called  "  master." 

79 


8o    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

By  a  more  direct  route,  or,  as  he  said,  "  er 
short  cut,"  Ned  had  reached  the  cotton-field 
in  advance  of  Mr.  Standwick,  who  found  him 
moving  quickly  among  the  pickers,  urging 
them  to  greater  diligence  and  steadiness  in 
their  work.  When  he  saw  Mr.  Standwick  he 
came  to  where  that  gentleman  was  sitting  on 
his  horse. 

"  I  gwine  atter  Cap'n  Als'on.  I  jes'  stop 
ter  look  atter  dese  pickers  er  li'l'  while.  Boss, 
I'se  glad  you  come  down  ter  dis  cotton-patch; 
you  kin  see  how  dese  free  niggers  wu'k.  Dar's 
some  settin'  down  at  de  een'  er  de  row,  some 
er  layin'  down  'twix'  de  rows,  a  whole  bunch 
on  'em  ober  yander  talkin'  'bout  polerticks  an' 
votin',  an'  dey  ain't  know  no  mo'  'bout  neider 
one  dan  er  mule  does  'bout  leadin'  er  singin'- 
school.  Dar's  'bout  er  dozen  er  Marster's 
ole  niggers  pickin'  stiddy.  Did  you  ebber  see 
de  beat  er  dem  udder  niggers  in  yer  life?  " 

"Well,  I  must  admit,"  said  Mr.  Stand- 
wick, "  that  they  hardly  appear  to  be  earning 
their  wages." 

"  Wages,  boss?  Dey  ain't  paid  no  wages  1 
Dat  cotton  you  see  dar,  whar  er  hones'  wu'kin' 
man  kin  pick  th'ee  er  fo'  hundred  poun'  er 
day,  is  dey  crop.  Half  un  it  b'longs  ter  'em. 
De  mo'  dey  gedders  de  mo'  money  dey  hab 
at  de  een'  ob  de  yeah — but  you  see  how  dey 
does.  But  you  jes'  wait  twell  Sadday  come, 
an'  dey  all  gwine  light  out  fer  town  ef  dey 
lose  er  bale  er  cotton  erpiece.  Hit's  de  same 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    81 

way  on  ever'  plan'ashun,  an'  fer  mah  life,  I 
cain't  see  w'ut's  gwine  ter  become  er  sich 
peepul;  but  I  mus'  go  on  atter  de  Cap'n  now, 
ef  you'll  'scuse  me." 

As  Mr.  Standwick  rode  away  he  said  to 
himself,  "  I  must  admit  there  seems  to  be 
much  truth  in  what  Ned  says.  The  negro  at 
a  distance  and  near  at  hand,  in  theory  and  in 
practice,  I  find  a  very  different  being." 

When  he  returned  to  the  house  there  was 
a  roaring  fire  in  the  sitting-room;  the  dining- 
room  and  parlor  were  brilliantly  lighted,  and 
the  whole  house  had  an  aspect  so  cheerful,  so 
hospitable,  so  inviting  that  Mr.  Standwick 
felt  almost  as  if  it  were  his  house  beckoning 
him  to  all  its  elegance  and  comfort. 

After  a  short  time,  when  Captain  Alston 
arrived,  Ned  escorted  him  into  the  house  and 
Mr.  Standwick  met  him  at  the  door  of  the 
sitting-room,  and  the  two  gentlemen  greeted 
each  other  cordially.  Mr.  Standwick  was  im- 
pressed, even  at  first  glance,  at  his  guest,  or 
rather  at  Ned  and  Hester's  guest,  for  Cap- 
tain Alston  was  a  striking-looking  man,  who 
quickly  and  favorably  impressed  all  who  met 
him  for  the  first  time. 

He  was  above  the  average  height,  slender 
and  well  knit.  He  was  straight  as  an  arrow, 
his  voice  was  soft  and  finely  modulated, 
and  his  movements  were  characterized  by 
ease  and  grace.  His  hair,  originally  black  as 
a  raven's  wing,  was  well  sprinkled  with  gray. 


82    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

His  eyes  were  black,  and  looked  one  straight 
in  the  face;  his  mouth  indicated  frankness 
and  courage  of  the  highest  type ;  but  there  was 
in  his  face  an  expression  which,  at  frequent 
intervals,  was  almost  pathetic. 

He  was  courteous  and  cordial,  but  by  no 
means  effusive  in  manner.  The  impression 
made  upon  Mr.  Standwick  was  that  he  had 
clasped  the  hand  of  a  gentleman  of  character 
and  courage,  one  who  had  suffered  some  great 
sorrow,  and  who  was  worthy  of  the  admira- 
tion and  friendship  of  Hamilton  Marshall. 
As  soon  as  Captain  Alston  had  removed  his 
top  coat  he  said, 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  meet  you.  I  am  glad 
you  are  in  the  South,  and  I  am  especially  glad 
that  you  are  a  guest  under  this  roof,  for  the 
world  holds  no  better  people  than  Colonel 
Marshall  and  his  wife." 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  agree  with  you,  Cap- 
tain," replied  Mr.  Standwick,  "  though  I  have 
seen  very  little  of  them;  but  certainly  never 
was  more  considerate  and  gracious  treatment 
extended  a  stranger,  or  more  delightful  hos- 
pitality." 

At  this  juncture,  Hester  appeared  in  the 
door-way,  curtsying  and  nodding.  "  Howdy 
do,  Marse  Cap'n';  I  sho'  is  glad  ter  see  you. 
It's  b'en  er  long  time  sence  we  had  de  good 
luck  ter  hab  you  in  dis  house."  Captain  Als- 
ton went  forward  and  shook  hands  with  Hes- 
ter and  thanked  her,  and  expressed  the  hope 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'   GENTMAN    83 

that  she  was  well.  Had  Hester  been  the  first 
lady  of  the  land,  this  southern  soldier  and 
aristocrat  could  not  have  been  more  unaf- 
fectedly and  sincerely  kind  and  cordial.  Hes- 
ter assured  him  that  she  was  "  tolerbul,"  for 
like  all  of  her  race  she  never  admitted  that 
she  was  altogether  well,  and  she  added,  "  T'se 
sorry  Marster  an'  Miss  Ma'y  'bleeged  ter  be 
erway  ter-night;  but  Ned  an'  me  an'  Dinah 
'11  do  de  bes'  we  kin." 

"  I  have  no  fear  on  that  score,  Hester,"  re- 
turned Captain  Alston.  "  I  have  been  here 
too  many  times  to  have  any  doubt  whatever 
of  your  ability." 

"  Yes,  sah;  but  yer  ain't  b'en  here  no  mo' 
times  dan  yer  was  welcome,  Marse  Cap'n; 
an'  now  I  mus'  ax  you  an'  Mr.  Stan'wick  ter 
walk  in  ter  supper." 

No  meal  could  have  been  more  delightfully 
cooked  or  served,  and  both  gentlemen  were 
sincere  in  their  assurances  of  appreciation, 
Mr.  Standwick  declaring, 

"  Each  meal  here  is  to  me  a  surprise,  and 
such  cooking  I  have  never  seen." 

"  That,"  said  Captain  Alston,  laughing, 
"  has  been  my  experience  for  thirty  years  and 
more.  Dinah  stands  pre-eminent  among  our 
colored  cooks.  No  head  cook  or  chef  in  any 
cafe  or  hotel  in  the  preparation  of  tempting, 
appetizing  food  is  in  her  class  at  all,  and 
Hester  can  set  the  table  and  serve  as  can  no 
other  servant  I  have  ever  seen." 


84    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

"Thank  you,  Marse  Cap'n;  it  sho'  is 
mighty  kin'  in  you  ter  say  dat,"  said  Hester. 

When  the  two  gentlemen  returned  to  the 
sitting-room,  Captain  Alston  said:  "  I  was 
saying  when  supper  was  announced  that  I  was 
glad  you  were  in  the  South  and  were  the  guest 
of  this  family,  for  the  South  needs  now,  as 
never  before,  to  be  understood  in  the  North; 
and  those  who  come  from  there  with  all  the 
convictions  and  prejudices  and  sympathies  of 
our  northern  neighbors,  can  never  do  better 
nor  learn  the  truth  quicker  than  by  being 
thrown  in  contact  with  such  people  as  your 
hosts." 

"  I  agree  with  you  heartily,  Captain  Alston, 
and  I  will  say  to  you  what  I  shall  unhesitat- 
ingly, as  an  act  of  justice,  say  to  Colonel  Mar- 
shall, that  so  entirely  did  I  misapprehend 
southern  sentiment  and  the  character  of  south- 
ern slave  owners  that  I  felt  afraid  that  I 
would  be  denied  lodgment  beneath  this  roof, 
when  my  birth-place  and  my  political  convic- 
tions were  made  known.  I  had  read  much  and 
heard  much  from  which  I  drew  that  conclu- 
sion, or  which  at  least  suggested  that  pos- 
sibility, and  when  I  stood  in  the  cheerful  light 
of  the  fire  in  this  room  and  heard  Colonel 
Marshall  approach  last  evening,  I  felt  no 
small  degree  of  trepidation,  and  had  grave 
doubt  as  to  my  reception  and  treatment." 

"  My    dear    sir,"    said    Captain    Alston, 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENTMAN    85 

"  never  was  there  less  cause  of  apprehension. 
You  were  already  by  the  hearthstone  of  Col- 
onel Marshall's  home,  and  had  you  been  his 
dearest  foe  you  would  not  have  been 
driven  out  into  the  night;  and  being  a  stranger 
and  a  traveler  wearied  by  an  unusual  journey, 
you  became  at  once  the  guest  of  those  to 
whom  hospitality  is  at  once  a  duty  and  a 
delight." 

"  I  have,"  said  Mr.  Standwick,  "  often 
heard  and  read  of  such  hospitality,  but  I  fear 
now  I  was  quicker  to  believe  the  evil  than  the 
good  reports  of  the  southern  people.  I  have 
read  some  most  bitter  and  cruel  attacks  upon 
'  southern  aristocracy,'  but  if  Colonel  Mar- 
shall and  his  wife  are  typical  representatives 
of  that  class,  then,  here  and  now  I  dis- 
claim any  belief  in  what  I  have  either  heard 
or  read." 

"  Mr.  Standwick,  Colonel  Marshall  and 
his  wife  are  representatives  of  the  best  so- 
ciety of  the  South.  It  is  not  necessary  to  call 
it  an  aristocracy,  because  it  was  not,  and  is 
not,  aristocracy  in  the  modern  sense  of  that 
term.  No  man  can  buy  his  way  into  it,  nor 
does  it  measure  people  by  a  monetary  stand- 
ard. It  is  an  aristocracy  of  blood  and  breed- 
ing and  character,  and  stands  even  in  its 
poverty  of  to-day  in  hereditary  and  perpetual 
rebellion  against  the  social  despotism  of  the 
dollar.  We  have,  or  rather  before  the  war 


86    NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENT'MAN 

we  had,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  of  course; 
nearly  all  are  poor  now,  but  there  were  rich 
people  who  were  not  in  the  class  to  which 
Colonel  Marshall  belongs,  while  many  who 
were  not  rich  were  in  it,  and  enjoyed  all  its 
social  honors,  dignities,  delights,  and  privi- 
leges." 

"  What  surprises  me,  Captain  Alston,  is 
that  such  a  social  system  could  have  existed 
coincident  with  slavery,  to  the  idea  of  which 
I  can  never  become  reconciled.  That  such 
people  as  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Marshall  should 
have  owned  and  kept  slaves  is  to  me  beyond 
comprehension.  No  man  can  fail  to  see  in  an 
hour  that  Colonel  Marshall  is  a  gentleman  of 
education,  liberal  culture,  thorough  breeding 
and  courage,  and  possessed  of  that  kindness 
of  heart  which  is  essential  to  constitute  a  gen- 
tleman in  the  highest  sense  of  that  somewhat 
abused  term,  while  no  more  gracious,  gentle, 
or  charming  woman  than  Mrs.  Marshall  have 
I  ever  seen;  yet  they  are  the  products  of  a 
social  and  industrial  system  of  which  human 
slavery  was,  so  to  speak,  the  corner-stone,  and 
yet  very  certainly  slavery  antagonized  the 
sentiment  and  conviction  of  the  civilized 
world." 

'  Yes,  they  were  slave  owners,  as  were  their 
sires  and  grandsires  before  them.  They  were, 
so  to  speak,  the  victims  of  circumstances  and 
environment.  They  received  slaves  as  their 
legacies,  just  as  people  in  the  North  received 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    87 

bonds,  mortgages,  and  shares  of  stock,  and 
they  could  not  set  them  free;  if  they  had,  nine- 
tenths  of  them  would  have  become  tramps 
and  vagabonds  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 

"  The  experience  of  the  last  few  years  has 
proved  that  the  negroes  if  set  free  could  not 
have  found  homes  in  the  North,  because  the 
climate  was  unsuited  to  them,  as  was  the  char- 
acter of  work  done  by  common  laborers;  so 
the  people  of  the  South,  while  they  did  not 
prefer  slavery  and  recognized  that  there  were 
many  evils  connected  with  it,  and  knew  that 
the  sentiment  of  Christian  civilization  was 
rapidly  crystallizing  against  it,  could  not  free 
their  slaves,  and  they  knew  that  no  power  on 
earth  had  the  lawful  right  to  take  their  slaves 
from  them  or  set  them  free. 

"  They  knew  that  the  evils  of  slavery  were 
greatly  exaggerated  by  anti-slavery  writers 
and  speakers,  because  five-sixths  of  the  slaves 
in  the  South  were  better  fed,  better  housed, 
and  better  clad  than  were  the  common  white 
laborers  in  the  North,  and  not  one  in  ten  of 
such  laborers  enjoyed  the  comforts  and  free- 
dom from  care  and  anxiety  as  to  the  future 
that  the  slaves  of  Colonel  Marshall  did. 

"  There  were,  of  course,  many,  yet  in  com- 
parison really  very  few,  cruel  masters  in  the 
South;  but  that  few  did  much  to  develop  a 
sentiment  here  against  slavery.  Even  I,  a 
slaveholder,  did  not  believe  in  it;  but  like  my 
neighbors,  I  was  helpless  to  prevent  it.  I 


88    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

would  not  to-day  return  the  negroes  in  the 
South  to  slavery  if  I  could  do  so  by  uplifting 
my  finger,  and  I  know  I  speak  the  sentiments 
of  ninety-nine  out  of  every  hundred  of  those 
in  the  South  who  owned  slaves. 

"  Negroes  were  property,  recognized  by 
the  Constitution  and  laws,  and  I  believe,  as 
do  all  my  fellow-countrymen  of  the  South, 
and  as  I  and  they  will  always  believe,  that  to 
set  the  negroes  free  and  to  wipe  out  thou- 
sands of  millions  of  dollars  of  property  values 
without  compensation  was  inexcusable  and  in- 
defensible in  the  forum  either  of  morals  or 
of  law." 

"  But,  Captain,"  said  Mr.  Standwick  with 
some  warmth,  but  in  a  courteous  tone,  "  the 
people  of  America — at  least  I  can  speak  for 
the  people  of  New  England — were  unwilling 
to  see  half  the  nation  a  land  of  slavery  and 
see  millions  of  their  fellow-men  sink  lower 
and  lower  in  the  scale  of  being  every  year, 
and  see  them  made  beasts  of  burden  in  order 
that  their  masters  might  grow  rich.  Pardon 
me,  I  mean  no  offense.  I  trust  each  of  us 
can  express  his  views  with  perfect  candor. 
I  am  sure  each  will  do  so  with  kindness  and 
courtesy." 

"  My  dear  New  England  friend,"  said 
Captain  Alston  in  a  bantering  tone,  "  don't 
you  think  it  wrould  have  been  more  becoming 
and  consistent  in  our  Puritan  friends  if  they 
had  become  indignant  and  horrified  at  the 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN    89 

idea  of  human  slavery  before  they  went  into 
the  slave  trade — or  at  least  before  they  sold 
out  their  stock  of  negroes  to  the  southern 
people?  We  got  them  from  your  ancestors 
because  the  soil,  climate,  and  the  industrial 
conditions  of  New  England  were  not  con- 
genial to  the  negro.  He  failed  to  pay  as  an 
investment,  and  with  characteristic  foresight 
and  thrift,  which  it  would  be  well  if  we  our- 
selves had  more  of,  the  good  people  of  New 
England,  who  in  matters  of  finance  are  never 
caught  napping,  got  rid  of  the  negro,  not  by 
setting  him  free  and  washing  their  hands  of 
the  '  awful  sin  of  dealing  in  human  flesh  and 
blood,'  as  they  were  wont  to  say,  but  by 
turning  him  over  to  us  at  a  good  bargain  for 
the  sellers.  That  is  a  historical  truth  so  well 
established  that  no  man  even  pretends  to 
deny  it." 

"  Admitting  that  to  be  true,"  said  Mr. 
Standwick,  "  it  belongs  to  the  past,  and  I  am 
glad  to  say  that  for  several  generations  no 
human  being  has  been  held  in  slavery  in  New 
England,  and  her  past  offenses  do  not  justify 
yours  of  more  recent  date." 

"  Concede  that  for  argument's  sake,  or 
even  as  a  fact,"  returned  Captain  Alston, 
"  nevertheless,  it  does  appear  a  little,  indeed 
very  inconsistent  to  us,  to  see  or  read  that  the 
agitation  in  the  North  for  the  abolition  of 
slavery  was  almost  coincident  with  the  closing 
out  or  the  last  negro  by  sale  to  the  South. 


90    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

"Then,  as  to  the  negro  sinking  lower  in 
the  scale  of  being  every  year,  the  truth  is  ex- 
actly the  reverse.  You  have  heard  and  read 
such  statements  so  often  that  it  is  not  sur- 
prising that  you  should  have  believed  them, 
but  the  negro  was  constantly  improving  in  in- 
telligence and  morals. 

"  The  negro  in  slavery  was  in  the  matter 
of  morals  and  industry  and  honesty,  infinitely 
the  superior  of  the  free  negro  of  the  present 
day.  There  is  no  doubt  whatever  of  that 
fact;  but  what  relative  conditions  may  be 
twenty  years  from  now,  I  do  not  undertake 
to  predict. 

"  The  negro  in  slavery  was  allowed  Sun- 
day and  most  often  half  of  Saturday  for  rest, 
and  nearly  every  planter  provided  his  slaves 
with  opportunity  for  worship,  and  the  fidel- 
ity of  the  negro  during  the  war,  which 
was  beyond  all  praise,  is  the  best  evidence  of 
his  affection  for  his  owners.  When  the  South 
took  the  negroes  as  slaves  they  were  eating 
snakes  and  worshiping  toads,  and  when  they 
were  set  free  they  were  qualified  for  judges 
and  legislators  and  congressmen  and  gover- 
nors, at  least  many  of  them  went  at  once  into 
these  positions,  and  every  male  negro  became 
at  once  a  voter." 

"  I  know,  of  course,  that  they  were  given 
the  right  to  vote,  Captain  Alston;  but  to  say 
they  were  put  in  high  offices  though  they  were 
ignorant  and  uneducated,  is  of  course  an  ex- 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    91 

travagance  of  speech  which  should  be  par- 
doned, as  it  possibly  illustrates  unusual 
conditions." 

"  Indeed,  sir,  it  is  not  a  figure  of  speech ; 
it  is  the  statement  of  a  fact,  the  unvarnished, 
undeniable  truth.  There  were  during  the 
Reconstruction  period  scores  of  legislators, 
and  minor  judicial  officers  like  justices  of  the 
peace,  who  could  not  read  or  write  a  word, 
and  ex-convicts  were  put  in  high  offices,  and 
States  already  devastated  by  war  were  plun- 
dered until  they  were  absolutely  bankrupt." 

"  I  had  no  idea,"  said  Mr.  Standwick, 
"  that  statements  to  this  effect  which  I  often 
heard  and  read  were  true  in  fact.  I  sup- 
posed they  were  merely  born  of  prejudice  and 
passion  and  that  they  were  made  to  influence 
public  sentiment  in  the  North  against  the 
policy  of  Reconstruction." 

"No,  indeed,  sir;  the  conditions  to  which 
I  have  referred  were  the  fruits  of  Recon- 
struction, and  I  refer  to  them  in  no  spirit  of 
complaint  or  repining  over  the  past,  but 
merely  as  matters  of  historical  interest,  which 
will  prove  of  great  value  as  a  lesson  and  a 
warning  to  statesmen  of  the  future  who  may 
possibly  attempt  the  impossible  task  of  sub- 
jecting the  intelligent,  liberty-loving  white 
man  to  the  domination  of  men  of  an  inher- 
ently and  hopelessly  inferior  race. 

'  Now,  you  were,  a  few  minutes  ago,  ex- 
pressing surprise  that  a  class  of  society  such 


92    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

as  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Marshall  belong  to  and 
fitly  represent  could  have  been  produced  un- 
der the  system  of  slavery  which  existed  here. 
The  highest  guarantee  of  noble  living  is  a 
life  of  freedom  and  a  jealous  regard  for  per- 
sonal liberty  and  individual  independence  of 
convictions  and  action,  and  history  attests  that 
they  who  own  slaves  have  ever  most  zealously 
guarded  their  own  liberties,  and  been  quickest 
to  resist  aggression  and  oppression  in  every 
form. 

"  The  system  of  slavery  in  the  South  was 
half  patriarchal  and  half  feudal,  and  despite 
the  evils  that  were  inevitably  incident  to  it,  as 
they  must  be  to  human  slavery  in  any  form, 
and  to  the  objections  to  which  it  was  justly 
subject,  it  was  best  for  the  negro,  though  not 
best  for  the  white  man. 

"  How  from  such  industrial  and  economic 
environment  there  was  evolved  a  social  sys- 
tem that  produced  such  men  and  women  as 
composed  that  element  of  southern  society 
which  is  typified  and  illustrated  in  those  be- 
neath whose  roof  we  sit,  is  an  inquiry  which 
cannot  fail  to  interest  the  historian  and  social 
philosopher,  and  the  student  who  inquires  into 
the  relation  of  industrial  and  economic  poli- 
cies to  social  conditions  and  standards. 

'  That  the  social  system  of  the  South,  Mr. 
Standwick,  did  produce  the  highest  types  of 
mankind  and  womankind  that  have  ever  lived 
in  any  age  or  in  any  land,  I  firmly  believe. 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    93 

The  standard  here  of  manly  honor  and  wom- 
anly virtue  was  the  highest  ever  known  in 
any  system  of  society  of  which  there  is  record 
in  history. 

"  The  standard  of  honor  and  manhood  in 
private  life  was  reflected  in  the  public  service, 
and  I  can  recall  neither  in  history  nor  tradi- 
tion a  single  instance  where  there  was  in  the 
legislature,  in  Congress  or  on  the  bench,  a 
charge  of  corruption  against  a  southern 
official,  or  a  breach  of  official  trust  by  any 
office-holder  in  any  Southern  State. 

"  The  social,  industrial,  and  economic  sys- 
tem which  prevailed  here  produced  not  only 
honest,  faithful  public  servants,  but  men  of 
intellect  and  culture,  and  statesmen  of  the 
highest  type. 

'  You  are,  of  course,  familiar  with  the  con- 
trolling influence  of  southern  statesmen  in  the 
formation  of  the  new  republic,  and  know  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States,  which  has 
justly  been  said  to  be  the  greatest  product  of 
the  human  mind,  was  the  work  of  southern 
men  and  slaveholders.  I  do  not  speak  of  these 
things  in  a  spirit  of  boasting,  but  in  defense 
of  a  social  and  industrial  system  which  has 
often  been  most  unjustly  assailed. 

"  Our  northern  critics  have  often  said  that 
'  the  South,  being  rid  of  slavery,  with  all  the 
demoralizing  influences,'  would  form  loftier 
ideals  and  rapidly  rise  to  a  higher  standard 
of  civilization  and  society,  but  they  err  in 


94    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

making  this  statement.  She  never  will — be- 
cause she  cannot.  There  are  none. 

"  Say  what  you  will  of  slavery,  and  remem- 
ber, I  am  not  seeking  to  justify  or  defend  it, 
judged  by  the  men  and  women  the  last  cen- 
tury has  produced  in  the  South;  measured  by 
the  tests  of  honor  and  courage  and  intellect 
and  patriotism  of  the  one,  and  the  refine- 
ment, purity,  and  social  charms  and  graces  of 
the  other,  here  in  the  South,  where  slavery 
existed,  civilization  reached  the  highest  point 
ever  attained. 

'  This  may  sound  to  you  as  extravagant 
and  paradoxical,  and  you  may  wholly  dissent 
from  my  views ;  yet,  nevertheless,  what  I  have 
said  is  true.  The  South  will  preserve  and 
adhere  to  her  ancient  social  faiths  and  stand- 
ards, for  there  are  none  higher.  Her  men 
and  her  women,  in  time  of  peace,  prosperity 
and  plenty,  and  in  time  of  war  and  adver- 
sity and  want,  have  held  unseduced  to  the 
social  and  political  faiths  once  delivered  to 
the  fathers,  and  thereby  challenged  the  ad- 
miration of  universal  humanity. 

"  I  trust  you  will  acquit  me  of  unbecoming 
vanity  in  so  extolling  a  system  to  which  I  bear 
so  intimate  a  relation,  but  my  statements  are 
impersonal,  and  in  support  of  them  I  desire 
to  give  you  some  high  and  disinterested  tes- 
timony. 

*  You  will  remember  that  Mr.  Thackeray, 
the  English  novelist,  came  to  America  on  a 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    95 

visit  about  1853.  He  visited  New  York, 
Boston,  and  Philadelphia,  and  met  many  of 
the  cultured,  refined,  and  splendid  people  of 
those  great  cities.  He  was  the  guest  of  a 
distinguished  citizen  of  Philadelphia  who  was 
a  few  years  afterward  the  diplomatic  repre- 
sentative of  the  United  States  at  the  court  of 
one  of  the  great  Oriental  nations,  and  who 
wrote  a  memoir  of  Mr.  Thackeray,  a  most 
charming  piece  of  literature.  In  the  course  of 
the  memoir  he  spoke  of  the  horror  he  said  he 
was  sure  Mr.  Thackeray  felt  at  the  war  be- 
tween '  brethren  speaking  the  same  dear 
tongue  ' — the  late  war  between  the  States, 
— because  he  said  Mr.  Thackeray  had  vis- 
ited southern  homes  and  shared  southern  hos- 
pitality and  had  met  southern  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  '  the  highest  types  of  American 
civilization.' 

"  I  appreciate  the  sturdy  character  of  the 
Puritans  and  esteem  them  for  their  many  ad- 
mirable qualities,  but  they  are  prone  to  speak 
patronizingly  of  us  of  the  South.  Sometimes 
it  seems  to  me  there  is  too  much  of  the  '  I  am 
holier  than  thou  '  spirit  in  their  utterances, 
but  I  do  not  include  you,  Mr.  Standwick,  in 
my  indictment.  I  believe  you  will  do  us 
justice  when  you  return. 

;'  We  have  our  faults  and  our  vices,  but 
frankness  and  courage  and  candor  are  charac- 
teristics of  the  people  of  the  South.  They 
have  none  of  the  genius  of  indirection,  they 


96    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

neither  practise  nor  know  the  arts  of  hy- 
pocrisy. 

"  We  owned  slaves,  they  were  our  prop- 
erty ;  but  we  would  not  have  fought  for  their 
value  and  did  not.  We  fought  because  our 
land  was  unlawfully  invaded,  and  the  per- 
petuation or  extinction  of  slavery  was  a  mere 
incident.  We  have  endured  much,  but  have 
made  no  complaint.  We  ask  no  pity,  seek  no 
sympathy,  crave  no  pardon.  Confessed  ne- 
cessity for  pardon  involves  consciousness  of 
guilt,  and  we  are  conscious  of  neither  moral 
nor  political  guilt,  unless  it  be  guilt  to  defend 
our  homes  and  firesides  against  unjustifiable 
invasion,  and  to  battle  as  we  are  now  battling 
to  overthrow  negro  domination,  and  restore 
the  white  man  to  his  rightful  possession.  We 
stand  for  the  eternal  supremacy  of  the  white 
man  and  assert  the  physical,  moral,  intel- 
lectual and  ethnological  inferiority  of  the 
negro. 

"  The  madness  and  folly  of  the  present 
hour  will  pass  away;  this  frenzy  of  fanaticism 
about  the  negro  and  his  '  rights  and  suffer- 
ings '  will  in  a  generation  become  but  a  mem- 
ory, and  the  South  treading  now  alone  the 
wine  press  of  sorrow  will  be  Heaven's  favored 
land,  and  the  last  and  safe  refuge  and  hope 
for  free  democratic  government  on  this  con- 
tinent. 

;t  We  admit  neither  the  moral  nor  social 
superiority  of  any  people  in  the  world.  If 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENT'MAN    9? 

you  could  gather  in  this  house  to-morrow  the 
husbands,  wives,  sons  and  daughters  of  a 
hundred  families  of  the  class  to  which  your 
host  and  hostess  belong,  you  could  not  in  point 
of  culture,  good  breeding,  intellectual  accom- 
plishments, manly  honor,  womanly  virtue  and 
social  charms  and  graces  match  that  gather- 
ing in  any  land  on  all  the  earth.  You  would 
see  there  the  products  and  exponents  of 
the  golden  age  socially — the  apotheosis  of 
Christian  civilization. 

"  Mr.  Standwick,  I  feel  as  if  I  owed  you 
an  apology  for  monopolizing  the  conversa- 
tion, but  the  subject  is  one  in  which  I  feel 
deeply.  From  heartcore  to  finger  tip  I  am  a 
southern  man,  and  if  I  have  allowed  my  feel- 
ings to  betray  me  into  any  utterance  that 
could  possibly  in  the  slightest  degree  give 
you  offense,  I  crave  your  forgiveness. 

"  I  have  spoken  with  unrestrained  freedom 
because  I  believe  you  are  capable  of  appreci- 
ating the  conditions  which  now  confront  us 
and  the  motives  which  prompted  us  in  the 
past  and  those  which  prompt  us  now;  and 
that  while  you  may  never  agree  with  us  upon 
many  questions  and  policies,  that  you  will  do 
us  justice  and  give  us  credit  for  sincerity  of 
conviction  and  purpose." 

"  Captain  Alston,  it  is  not  necessary  that 
I  should  agree  with  you  in  order  that  I  should, 
as  I  do,  respect  your  opinions;  and  your 
pride  in  and  devotion  to  your  native  South 


98    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

challenges  my  admiration.  This  much  I  say. 
Any  social  system  that  produced  such  people 
as  Hamilton  Marshall  and  Mary  Marshall 
could  not  have  been  as  full  of  evil  as  I  have 
been  taught  to  believe  the  South  was.  No 
evil  tree  could  possibly  have  produced  such 
splendid  fruit.  I  hope  and  believe  I  under- 
stand better  than  I  have  ever  done,  the  po- 
sition of  the  southern  people  upon  many 
questions." 

"  Permit  me,  Mr.  Standwick,  to  speak  a 
few  words  in  defense  of  the  South  upon  one 
point.  You  spoke  of  slaves  being  made  beasts 
of  burden  by  cruel  southern  masters.  Do  you 
know  that  it  was  throughout  the  entire  South 
a  matter  of  common  knowledge  that  in  ninety- 
nine  instances  out  of  a  hundred,  where  a  slave 
owner  was  peculiarly  and  unusually  unkind 
and  cruel,  who  half  fed  and  half  clothed  his 
slaves,  and  who  exacted  extreme  and  cruel 
tasks  of  them,  that  owner,  when  traced  back 
to  his  place  of  birth,  was  found  to  be  a  north- 
ern man? 

"  You  will  understand,  of  course,  that  I  do 
not  mean  by  this  that  the  average  northern 
man  is  naturally  more  unkind  or  cruel  than 
his  brother  man  in  the  South;  but  what  I  have 
stated  was  attributable  to  two  facts.  First, 
the  northern  man  invariably  acquired  his 
negroes  by  purchase  and  not  by  inheritance, 
as  was  the  case  with  the  majority  of  the 
largest  southern  slave  owners,  and  he  knew 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENT'MAN    99 

nothing  of  the  ties  of  interest  and  affection 
which  existed  between  those  owners  who  had 
reared  their  slaves  or  been  reared  from  child- 
hood with  them.  In  the  second  place,  the 
northern  man  had  been  lured  to  the  South  by 
the  glowing  tales  he  had  heard  of  the  rapid 
road  to  riches  that  farming  with  slave  labor 
opened, — by  the  way,  a  most  erroneous 
idea, — and  he  had  heard  exaggerated  and  un- 
truthful reports  of  how  slaves  were  worked 
and  had  an  idea  that  they  could  stand  on 
scant  rations  all  that  beasts  of  burden  could, 
and  that  there  was  no  limit  to  their  ability  to 
labor;  and  he  worked  them  according  to  those 
false  conceptions,  and  the  result  was  that  he 
was  a  far  more  exacting  master  than  was  his 
southern  neighbor,  and  his  slaves  were  slaves 
indeed.  I  can  furnish  you  strong  testimony 
on  this  point,  testimony  furnished  by  a  witness 
who  certainly  cannot  be  said  to  have  been 
biased  in  favor  of  the  South. 

"  In  Colonel  Marshall's  library  I  see  a 
book  which  you  have  doubtless  seen,  one  that 
fanned  the  sparks  of  sectional  strife  and  bit- 
terness into  a  consuming  flame  and  '  wrought 
woes  unnumbered,'  '  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin.' 
Whether  it  so  occurred  by  accident  or  inad- 
vertance,  or  whether  for  a  purpose  Mrs. 
Stowe  so  designed  it,  the  hardest,  most  cruel 
and  unworthy  character  in  that  remarkable 
book,  Legree,  was  born  in  the  North  and 
came  South  and  trafficked  in  slaves  and  mal- 


ioo    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

treated  them;  while  the  two  most  lovable 
and  admirable  characters,  Uncle  Tom  and 
Eva,  were  reared  amid  slavery,  one  having 
been  a  slave,  the  other  his  young  mistress." 

"  I  have,  of  course,  read  the  book,"  said 
Mr.  Standwick,  "  but  really  your  statement 
is  a  revelation  to  me.  I  had  not  read  the  book 
so  carefully." 

"  Well,  you  will  find  it  to  be  as  I  say,  and 
whether  it  be  the  result  of  inadvertance  or 
design  it  is  a  remarkable  fact." 

The  conversation  between  the  Puritan  and 
the  Cavalier,  though  long  continued  and  most 
earnest,  was  conducted  with  the  courtesy  to 
be  expected  of  gentlemen  of  intelligence  and 
good  breeding  who  are  guests  under  the  same 
roof,  and  they  separated  for  the  night  with 
sincere  respect  each  for  the  other. 


CHAPTER   VII 

AFTER  breakfast  next  morning,  Captain  Als- 
ton said  that  he  must  excuse  himself,  as  he 
had  engagements  at  home  which  must  be  met; 
but  Hester  having  overheard  his  remarks 
came  quickly  to  the  door  of  the  sitting-room 
and  said, 

"  Marse  Cap'n,  you  sho'ly  ain't  gwine  ter 
go  befo'  dinner.  Dinah  gwine  ter  spread  her- 
se'f  ter-day  an'  give  de  nordern  gent'man  a 
dinner  fer  true,  an'  you  mus'  stay  an'  eat  wid 
him.  We  will  sho'ly  be  diserp'inted  ef  you 
don't.  Yer  ain't  b'en  ter  see  us  ez  many 
times  lately  as  we  spected,  an'  bein's  you  b'en 
so  good  ez  ter  come,  you  mus'  stay  ter  dinner, 
fer  Dinah  '11  be  sho'  flustrated  ef  you  leabe." 

Captain  Alston  could  not  resist  so  hospi- 
table and  evidently  so  sincere  an  invitation, 
and  consented  to  stay.  Hester  advised  Ned 
of  Captain  Alston's  acceptance  of  her  invita- 
tion, and  Ned  at  once  saddled  Redbird  and 
Colonel  Marshall's  saddle-horse  and  brought 
them  to  the  door,  and  when  the  gentlemen 
appeared  on  the  front  gallery  he  said, 

"  Marse  Cap'n  Als'on,  I  t'ought  you  an' 
Mr.  Stan'wick  mout  lak  ter  tek  a  ride  dis 
fine  mawnin';  an'  ef  you  do  you  know  dar's 


102    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

two  er  de  bes'  ridin'  nags  a  gent'man  ebber 
flung  his  laig  ober,  an'  dey's  fa'rly  chawmpin' 
dey  bits  fer  ter  go." 

"  Good,  Ned,"  said  Captain  Alston.  "  I 
should  like  to  ride  with  Mr.  Standwick  across 
the  country."  Mr.  Standwick  falling  readily 
into  the  idea,  the  two  gentlemen  were  soon 
off  for  a  morning  jaunt. 

They  rode  through  a  part  of  the  country 
which  Mr.  Standwick  had  not  been  over;  but 
there,  as  elsewhere  within  a  radius  of  many 
miles,  were  to  be  seen  the  depressing  and  dis- 
tressing evidence  of  vandalism  and  wanton 
destruction  of  property.  At  rare  intervals 
some  humble  house  had  been  spared ;  but  such 
instances  were  few,  and  there  were  in  many 
places  rude  structures  standing  where  once 
had  stood  splendid  mansions.  On  every  side 
were  evidences  of  ingenious  endeavors  to  re- 
build, out  of  crude  material,  burned  fences 
and  farm  houses,  and  of  a  struggle  against 
poverty  and  adversity  that  was  pathetic  in  its 
heroism.  After  riding  in  absolute  silence 
more  than  a  mile,  Mr.  Standwick  said, 

"  It  certainly  was  not  necessary  or  justifi- 
able to  spread  such  destruction  and  devastation 
as  this.  If  there  be  such  a  thing  as  civilized 
and  Christian  warfare,  which  terms  are  in 
my  judgment  contradictory  and  absurd,  this 
certainly  does  not  come  within  that  defini- 
tion. The  warfare  conducted  here  was  bar- 
baric and  a  reproach  to  the  great  nation 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENTMAN     103 

whose  soldiers  were  responsible  for  the  ruin 
and  desolation  I  see  around  me." 

"  You  know,"  said  Captain  Alston,  "  that 
I  have,  when  I  reflected  calmly  upon  these 
things  which  you  see  to-day,  wondered 
whether  those  who  live  where  you  do  and 
think  of  the  war  from  your  point  of  view 
really  knew  what  vandalism  and  barbarism 
marked  the  path  of  the  northern  army  in 
the  South." 

"  I  certainly  did  not;  I  desire  to  say  most 
emphatically  that  I  did  not,"  Mr.  Standwick 
replied. 

"  The  ruin  and  devastation  of  houses  and 
fences  and  mills  and  all  the  appurtenances  be- 
longing to  farms  and  plantations  was  fear- 
ful," said  Captain  Alston;  "  but  in  the  course 
of  time  such  losses  can  be  replaced,  but  in 
very  many  instances  all  the  family  supplies 
were  destroyed.  The  cattle  and  hogs  were 
killed,  and  when  the  homes  were  burned  the 
old  men  and  women  and  children,  mothers 
and  grandmothers  and  grandfathers,  stood 
by  the  smouldering  ruins  of  their  homes,  pen- 
niless, shelterless  and  hungry,  and  many  of 
such  sufferers  were  people  who  not  only  had 
never  known  poverty  or  want,  but  had  always 
been  accustomed  to  prodigal  luxury.  I  do  not 
recall  the  past  to  renew  bitter  memories,  but 
only  that  you,  who  I  believe  are  seeking  the 
truth,  may  know  all  the  facts." 

"  I  have,"  said    Mr.   Standwick,   "  often 


104    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

read  of  such  conditions,  but  could  not  believe 
they  ever  in  fact  existed;  but  since  I  have  been 
here  and  have  seen  for  myself,  I  am  entirely 
willing  to  believe  that  indeed  '  the  crow  that 
flew  over  this  country  would  have  been 
obliged  to  carry  his  rations.' ' 

"  Comparisons  are  said  to  be  odious,  but 
I  cannot  refrain  from  saying,  Mr.  Standwick, 
that  as  a  southern  man  I  take  much  pride  in 
and  derive  much  consolation  from  the  fact 
that  no  such  deeds  as  caused  this  fearful  deso- 
lation marked  the  pathway  of  the  southern 
army  in  Pennsylvania.  The  southern  soldier 
who  was  guilty  of  such  vandalism  would  have 
been  shot  in  an  hour." 

"  Your  pride  is  entirely  justifiable,  Captain 
Alston;  and  I  only  wish  the  northern  army 
had  not  by  such  deeds  marred  an  otherwise 
glorious  record." 

When  the  two  riders  returned  to  Marshall 
Hall,  it  was  a  little  past  noon  and  they  were 
entirely  ready  to  hear  announcement  of  the 
midday  meal  which,  in  accordance  with  uni- 
versal custom  in  the  South,  was  called  dinner. 
When  it  was  announced  and  the  gentlemen 
had  seated  themselves  at  the  table,  they  saw 
that  Dinah  had  nobly  fulfilled  her  promise  to 
prepare  a  dinner  "  sho'  'nuff." 

It  was  a  feast  of  good  things,  a  triumph 
of  culinary  skill,  a  marvel  of  variety  and  of 
service,  such  a  dinner  as  Captain  Alston  was 
accustomed  to  see  in  the  Marshall  home,  and 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN     105 

such  as  Mr.  Standwick  had  often  heard  of 
but  which  he  confessed  he  had  never  seen. 
The  linen  was  the  finest  and  whitest,  the 
abundant  and  handsome  silver  was  spotlessly 
burnished,  and  every  incident  and  appurte- 
nant of  the  dinner  was  in  exquisite  taste,  and 
it  being  a  typical  southern  dinner,  every  dish 
was  on  the  table,  except  the  dessert  and  coffee. 

Hester,  who  surveyed  the  table  with  a  pride 
which  she  did  not  attempt  to  conceal,  replied 
to  the  compliments  bestowed  upon  the  din- 
ner by  her  guests.  "Yes,  sah;  Dinah  sho'ly 
is  outdone  herse'f  ter-day.  Miss  Ma'y  would 
be  proud  ef  she  was  heah.  I  hope  you  gwine 
eat  somepin'  ob  ebberythin'  on  de  table." 

"  I  am  sure  we  will  do  our  best,"  Mr. 
Standwick,  laughing  heartily,  replied;  "but 
if  we  were  to  eat  something  or  everything 
Dinah  has  provided  you  would  have  two  sick 
guests  on  your  hands." 

Ned,  who  felt  as  if  he  had  a  share  in  the 
triumph  of  the  dinner,  said,  "  Now,  Mr. 
Stan'ick  an'  Marse  Cap'n,  heah's  tuckey  an' 
chicken,  an'  roas'  pig  an'  bake'  ham,  an'  den 
de  ve'y  bes'  ob  all,  a  big  fat  'possum.  I 
cotch  him  night  'fo'  las'  on  de  aige  ob  de 
bottom  up  a  little  bitty  sweet  gum  w'ut  ben' 
wid  him.  You  know  how  dey  say, 

"  '  De  mostes'  smoke  is  whar  de  H'les'  fire  be, 

En  de  ve'y  bigges'  'possum  clira'  de  ve'y  H'les'  tree ; ' 

an'  dat's  er  fac'.     I  roll  him  in  de  hot  ashes 


io6    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

an'  HT  coals  ter  tek  de  ha'r  off,  an'  he  hang 
out  in  de  fros'  las'  night,  an'  Dinah  parbile 
him  w'en  she  cook  brekkus,  an'  bake  him  wid 
sweet  taters  'roun'  him  fer  dinner;  an'  dar  he 
is,  an'  der  ain't  no  meat  ekalize  ter  him." 

"  Why,  I  never  ate  a  piece  of  'possum  in 
my  life,"  said  Mr.  Standwick. 

"Laws  a  mussey!  is  dat  so,  boss?  Den 
you  sho'  is  miss  a  heap  er  good  eatin',"  re- 
plied Ned. 

"  I  endorse  Ned's  encomium  upon  the  'pos- 
sum," said  Captain  Alston,  "  but  I  am  in- 
clined to  think  love  of  the  dish  is  in  a  large 
degree  a  cultivated  taste." 

'  Jes'  you  try  a  piece  'fo'  you  quits,  boss," 
said  Ned,  "  an'  you  gwine  ter  say  it's  de 
fines'  meat  dat  you  ever  wrap  yerse'f  'roun'." 

This  new  and  forceful  expression  amused 
Mr.  Standwick  greatly,  and  in  the  course  of 
the  good  dinner  to  which  he  sought  to  do  full 
justice  he  did  not  fail  to  try  the  'possum, 
which,  though  he  found  it  exceedingly  tooth- 
some, he  was  inclined  to  agree  with  Captain 
Alston  that  he  would  have  to  cultivate  a  taste 
for  it. 

Soon  after  dinner,  Captain  Alston  excused 
himself,  after  cordially  inviting  Mr.  Stand- 
wick to  visit  him.  Ned,  who,  as  he  expressed 
it,  had  "  done  finis'  hidin'  de  res'  er  dat  'pos- 
sum," escorted  him  home,  and  when  he  re- 
turned, Mr.  Standwick  was  regaling  himself 
with  a  cigar  on  the  front  gallery.  When 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN     107 

Ned  had  put  the  horses  in  the  stable,  he  came 
and  seated  himself  near  the  top  of  the  steps. 

"  Boss,  ain't  you  fin'  Cap'n  Als'on  a 
mighty  nice  man?  " 

"  Yes,  indeed;  I  enjoyed  his  company  very 
much.  He  is  very  intelligent,  and  is  an  ele- 
gant gentleman." 

"  Ob  co'se  he's  er  gent'man.  He  Mars- 
ter's  fr'en'  an  he's  quality-folks,  de  very  top 
er  de  pot.  He's  a  thurrerbred — no  scrub  in 
him,  no,  sah!  He  come  f'um  fightin'  stock, 
an'  endurin'  er  de  wah  he  was  de  cap'n  er  de 
out-fightines'  comp'ny  dat  ebber  you  seed. 
Dey  fit  twell  mos'  all  on  'em  was  kilt.  Marse 
Hamilton  an'  Marse  Alfred  all  b'long  ter  it. 
Cap'n  Als'on  was  bad  shot  an'  his  son  too." 

"  Ned,  he  tried  all  the  time  to  be  cheerful, 
but  I  think  he  must  have  suffered  some  great 
sorrow." 

'  Yes,  sah;  he  b'en  thu'  de  fi'y  furniss  ob 
'flickshun;  an'  I  gwine  ter  tell  you  'bout  him 
soon  I  git  de  time.  I  'lowed  ter  do  it  dis 
ebenin',  but  I  got  ter  fly  'roun'  heah  an'  'ten 
ter  some  matters  'g'inst  Marster  git  back,  so 
I  jes'  fetch  you  de  little  mar'  an'  yer  kin  go 
ridin'.  Time  yer  git  back,  Marster  an'  Miss 
Ma'y  be  heah." 

Later,  Mr.  Standwick  took  a  short  ride 
through  the  field  and  watched  the  cotton- 
pickers,  and  listened  to  their  conversation  as 
they  lazily  picked  or  loitered  at  the  ends  of 
the  rows.  It  was  all  new  to  him,  and  very 
amusing. 


CHAPTER   VIII 

THE  short  autumn  afternoon  was  fading  into 
twilight  when  Colonel  Marshall  and  his  wife 
drove  up.  They  warmly  greeted  Mr.  Stand- 
wick,  and  expressed  the  hope  that  he  had  been 
so  well  entertained  as  not  to  have  been  lone- 
some. He  assured  them  that  his  experience 
as  the  guest  of  Ne<jl  and  Hester  had  not  only 
been  novel,  but  most  delightful,  and  that  a 
night  and  forenoon  spent  with  a  gentleman 
like  Captain  Alston  was  a  pleasure  never  to 
be  forgotten. 

"  Ned  has  been  a  fine  host,  and  all  you  said 
of  him  I  found  to  be  true." 

Ned  removed  his  hat  and  bowed. 

"  Thankee,  boss;  I'se  glad  you  sat'sfied.  I 
al'ays  tries  ter  do  de  right  t'ing  w'en  Marster 
be  gone.  I  knows  he  'spects  me  ter  be  er 
gent'man,  'ca'se  I  ain't  nebber  'soshate  wid  no 
udder  kin'  er  folks.  Boss,  you  ain't  seed  Ned 
yit  lak  I  wan'  you  ter  see  him.  Yer  jes'  wait 
twell  Sunday  an'  I  gwine  drive  Miss  Ma'y  to 
de  'Piskerpul  chu'ch  in  de  kerridge.  You 
jes'  wanter  see  me  in  de  bro'dclof  suit  w'ut 
Marster  give  me,  an'  mah  stobe-pipe  hat,  an' 
my  blue-silk  neck  han'kercher,  wid  my  ker- 
ridge whip  in  mah  han'.  Den  you  gwine  see 
Ned,  Marster's  gent'man  nigger  sho'  'nuff. 

108 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN     109 

I  b'en  dress  dat  way  ev'y  Sunday  sence  I  b'en 
er  man.  I  b'en  drivin'  Miss  Ma'y  mo'  'n 
forty  year,  an'  I  al'ays  w'ars  mah  bro'dclof 
suit  an'  mah  stobe-pipe  hat,  an'  my  blue-silk 
neck  han'kercher,  an'  I  wouldn'  swap  places 
wid  de  man  w'ut  drive  de  king's  charyet.  I'd 
ruther  drive  Miss  Ma'y  dan  drive  der  Queen 
er  Inglun." 

Mr.  Standwick  and  his  host  and  hostess 
laughed  heartily  at  Ned's  picture  of  himself 
as  he  would  appear  in  the  role  of  charioteer 
on  Sunday,  and  then  entered  the  house. 

"  Mr.  Standwick,"  said  Colonel  Marshall, 
"we  will  go  into  the  parlor ;  you  have  never 
been  in  there,  I  believe/  We  prefer  the  more 
homelike  environment^  of  the  sitting-room. 
To  sit  with  a  guest  in  the  parlor  looks  like 
making  company  of  him,  and  we  want  you  to 
be  as  one  or  the  family." 

The  parlor  was  a  handsome  room,  fur- 
nished luxuriously,  and  the  walls  were  adorned 
with  several  pictures  that  were  genuine  works 
of  art;  but  after  admiring  the  beauties  of  the 
room,  by  common  impulse  they  all  moved  to- 
ward the  brightly  lighted  and  cosy  sitting- 
room. 

"  Mr.  Standwick,"  said  Colonel  Marshall, 
"  you  might  not  unreasonably  suppose  that 
Ned  talked  to  curry  favor  with  the  '  powers 
that  be  '  in  this  little  realm,  but  if  you  think 
so,  you  are  doing  him  an  injustice.  He  means 
every  word  he  says.  His  devotion  to  his  Mis- 


i io    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

tress  is  not  pretended.  He  would  die  for  her 
if  it  were  necessary.  He  is  possessed  of  one 
virtue,  among  many  others,  that  is  unfortu- 
nately rare  among  people  of  all  races,  and 
especially  among  negroes — gratitude. 

"  Unfortunately,  as  you  know,  negroes 
were  sometimes  sold  for  debt,  and  an  improv- 
ident relative  of  Mrs.  Marshall's  owned 
Hester  when  she  was  a  girl,  and  as  she  was  in 
danger  of  being  sold, — an  event  most  rare  in 
every  branch  of  Mrs.  Marshall's  family,  and 
mine,  I  am  proud  to  say, — Mrs.  Marshall 
bought  her  to  prevent  her  and  Ned  from  be- 
ing separated;  and  they  have  both  proved 
their  gratitude  through  many  a  long  year. 
Negroes  though  they  are,  Ned  is  a  gentleman 
and  Hester  is  a  lady,  in  conduct  and  character, 
and  both  have  not  only  our  respect,  but  our 
affection." 

"  I  am  entirely  prepared  to  believe  all  you 
say,  Colonel  Marshall.  I  have  never  seen 
greater  affection  manifested  than  that  which 
Ned  certainly  feels  for  your  wife  and  your- 
self. If,  before  I  came  South,  any  one  had 
told  me  such  relations  ever  existed  between 
master  and  slave,  as  I  am  sure  existed  be- 
tween your  family  and  those  two  negroes 
when  they  were  slaves,  and  which  exist  yet,  I 
would  have  scoffed  at  the  statement  as  absurd 
and  impossible,  for  it  would  have  been  to  me 
incomprehensible  then." 

"  It  may  surprise  you,  Mr.  Standwick,  when 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN     in 

I  say  that  it  is  by  no  means  exceptional. 
There  are  tens  of  thousands  of  such  instances 
in  the  South,  and,  indeed,  among  families  of 
social  position,  such  relations  of  affection  and 
trust  between  masters  and  slaves  holding  the 
place  in  the  household  that  Ned  and  Hester 
do,  were  the  rule  rather  than  the  exception; 
yet  the  people  where  you  live  were  made  to 
believe  that  we  beat  and  butchered  slaves  to 
make  a  southern  holiday. 

"  You  will  understand  that  I  do  not  mean 
to  paint  slavery  in  roseate  hues,  nor  to  make 
any  beautiful  picture  of  the  conditions  which 
accompanied  it,  for  I  did  not  myself  believe 
in  slavery.  There  was  much  to  be  deplored 
and  room  for  improvement,  and  under  no 
condition  would  I  have  my  two  hundred 
negroes  restored  to  slavery;  but  there  is  no 
doubt  whatever,  that  nine  negroes  out  of  ten 
were  more  comfortable  and  better  cared  for 
in  every  way  than  they  are  now.  Whether 
the  crop  failed  or  flourished,  whether  prices 
of  products  were  high  or  low,  it  made  no  dif- 
ference to  the  negro.  He  had  no  care  for  the 
morrow,  but  his  master  had  to  feed  and  clothe 
and  shelter  him,  and  over  the  whole  South  he 
did  not  pay  one  per  cent,  dividend  on  his 
market  value." 

"  I  must  confess,  Colonel,"  said  Mr.  Stand- 
wick,  u  that  my  views  as  to  conditions  here, 
and  the  relation  between  master  and  slave, 
have  undergone  a  great  change.  They  were 


ii2    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

largely  erroneous,  even  if  conditions  were  only 
half  so  good  and  so  pleasant  elsewhere  as 
they  are  between  you  and  your  slaves  and 
former  slaves." 

Supper  was  announced,  and  the  guest  had 
another  opportunity  to  observe  the  seemingly 
exhaustless  capacity  of  the  Marshall  larder, 
and  to  admire  Dinah's  culinary  skill  and 
Hester's  taste,  and  again  he  expressed  his  ap- 
probation and  appreciation. 

"  We  are,"  said  Mrs.  Marshall,  "  apprecia- 
tive of  your  kind  expressions,  and  your  enjoy- 
ment of  what  our  table  affords  gives  us 
pleasure.  The  matter  of  how  people  live  is 
largely  a  matter  of  custom  and  heredity,  so 
to  speak.  The  kind  of  food  eaten  and  the 
ways  of  cooking  it,  are  as  various  as  the  lati- 
tudes. Your  people  in  the  North,  as  I  know, 
use  cold  bread,  and  so  you  have  found  it  at 
your  plate  at  every  meal.  We  think  no  meal 
complete  without  hot  bread  in  at  least  one 
form.  I  have  been  told  that,  while  in  New 
England  they  have  excellent  food,  and  that  it 
is  well  prepared,  yet  in  most  instances  the 
quantity  is  so  carefully  gauged,  that  when  the 
meal  is  over  and  every  member  of  the  family 
and  every  guest  is  fed  abundantly,  there  is 
practically  nothing  left." 

'  Yes,  Madam,  that  statement  is  in  a  large 
measure  true.  I  do  not  believe  that  the  art 
of  preparation  of  food  is  better  understood 
anywhere,  but  the  people  are  not  inclined  to 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN     113 

waste.  The  climate  is  not  so  genial  as  it  is 
here;  the  season  for  growing  crops  is  much 
shorter;  the  area  of  arable  land  is  much  less, 
and  as  we  have  had  no  slaves,  it  has  required, 
and  still  requires,  skillful  farming  and  good 
management,  and  work  by  all  the  family,  com- 
bined with  the  closest  economy,  to  insure  pros- 
perity and  the  laying  up  of  wealth;  so  we  do 
not  waste  in  any  line,  yet  we  have  every  com- 
fort." 

"  With  us  it  is  exactly  the  contrary,  Mr. 
Standwick.  I  have  since  my  childhood,  as 
has  Mr.  Marshall,  been  accustomed  to  living, 
so  far  as  concerns  the  table,  just  as  we  live 
now.  My  father  and  his  father  lived  the 
same  way,  as  did  their  fathers. 

"  There  is,  of  course,  no  special  style,  no 
splendor  about  it,  no  attempt  to  set  a  banquet, 
but  we  know  that  you  must  see  that  it  is  too 
abundant — even  prodigal;  more  is  left  than 
is  eaten;  but  we  are  accustomed  to  it,  and  ex- 
cept under  the  stress  of  sheer  necessity  we 
could  not  live  otherwise,  and  fortunately  we 
have  never  felt  such  stress. 

"  As  we  lived  before  the  war  and  live  now, 
nine-tenths  of  the  best  people  of  the  South 
lived,  and  when  social  peace  and  industrial 
and  commercial  prosperity  come  again  they 
will  return  to  the  same  way  of  living.  It  is 
an  element  and  incident  of  hospitality,  and  we 
hold  that  hospitality  is  a  cardinal  virtue." 

When   they  had   returned  to  the  sitting- 


ii4    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

room,  Mr.  Standwick  said,  "  Ned  has  told  me 
some  most  amazing  stories  about  juries  to- 
day, and  I  rather  suspected  that  he  was  draw- 
ing a  long  bow  and  was  disposed  to  have  some 
fun  at  my  expense,  though  he  seemed  to  be  in 
earnest." 

"  I  assure  you,  Mr.  Standwick,  he  was  not 
jesting.  Every  incident  he  related,  you  may 
rest  assured,  was  literally  true,  and  they  are 
but  specimens  of  many  such  which  occurred 
during  the  horrible  process  of  Reconstruction 
— so-called.  Why,  sir,  in  one  of  the  South- 
ern States,  in  many  parts  of  which  the  negro 
population  largely  outnumbers  the  whites, 
there  was  a  negro  justice.  The  lawyers  en- 
gaged in  the  case  argued  it  all  day  before  him, 
there  being  no  jury.  The  lawyers  repeated 
the  familiar  rule  of  law  that  the  justice  must 
decide  '  according  to  the  weight  of  the  evi- 
dence,' so  when  the  argument  was  ended  the 
sable  jurist  rose,  and  solemnly  stroking  his 
chin,  said,  '  Ebber '  one  of  yer  niggers  step 
quick  ober  heer  to  de  flatform  scales.' 

"  One  of  the  counsel  said,  '  Why,  Judge, 
what  are  you  going  to  do  ?  ' 

'  I'm  gwine  ter  weigh  dese  niggers  w'ut 
been  er  testerfyin' — so  I  kin  tell  w'ich  side  got 
de  mos'  weight  ob  de  ev'dence.' 

'  That,  too,  is  a  literally  true  incident,  and 
we  were  for  a  number  of  years,  and  are  yet 
to  a  great  extent,  subject  to  such  conditions. 
Yet  the  people  of  the  North  were  told  how 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENT'MAN     115 

beneficent  and  beautiful  was  the  working  pro- 
cess of  what  was  misnamed  '  Reconstruction  ' 
— the  most  fearful  orgy  of  destruction  and 
corruption,  rottenness  and  robbery  that  ever 
stained  the  records  of  human  history. 

"  We  told  the  whole  world  just  what  I 
have  told  you,  but  were  not  believed  because 
we  were  or  had  been  so-called  '  rebels.'  I 
say  *  so-called,'  because,  of  course,  we  were 
not  so  in  fact.  The  Southern  States  exer- 
cised the  unquestionable  right  to  withdraw 
from  the  Union,  and  sovereign  States  could, 
of  course,  not  rebel,  and  the  citizens  of  these 
States,  of  course,  were  not  '  rebels.'  Our 
northern  friends  seemed  to  find  pleasure  in 
applying  to  us  the  designation  of  '  rebels,'  and 
we,  in  like  spirit,  called  them  '  Yankees,'  so 
I  suppose  honors  may  be  said  to  be  easy. 

"  Do  you  know,  Mr.  Standwick,  that  after 
the  brave,  decent  men  of  the  northern  army, 
who  fought  from  conviction,  had  returned  to 
their  homes  victors,  that  so-called  Republi- 
cans, but,  in  fact,  scalawags  and  carpetbag- 
gers, and  aliens  from  every  land,  and  the  rak- 
ings  of  the  alleys  and  gutters  and  purlieus 
of  the  northern  cities,  fastened  on  the  ten 
Southern  States  in  five  years  a  debt  of  $293,- 
000,000,  and  that  the  printing  bill  of  one 
State  for  one  year  was  more  than  the  entire 
expense  of  the  administration  of  the  govern- 
ment of  that  State  before  the  war?  " 

"  Permit   me   to   ask,    Colonel    Marshall, 


ii6    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

what  was  the  meaning  of  the  terms  '  carpet- 
bagger '  and  '  scalawag  '  ?  " 

'  The  designation  '  carpetbagger  '  is  easily 
understood,  Mr.  Standwick.  It  means  indi- 
viduals who  came  from  the  North  to  take 
advantage  of  conditions  which  speedily  arose 
after  Reconstruction  legislation  went  into  ef- 
fect. Most  of  such  adventurers  were  with- 
out character,  conscience,  or  property.  Their 
entire  worldly  possessions  were  easily  trans- 
ported in  a  carpet-bag,  yet  when  many  of 
them  left,  they  had  grown  rich  by  reason  of 
their  pillaging  and  plundering  a  disfranchised 
and  helpless  people. 

"  '  Scalawag  '  is  almost  an  entirely  arbitrary 
term  of  reproach.  I  believe  it  was  at  one 
time  applied  to  the  undersized  cattle  of  Shet- 
land, but  down  here,  in  the  Reconstruction 
period,  it  meant  a  native  southern  Republican, 
as  distinguished  from  a  carpet-bag  Republi- 
can. Native  southern  white  men  who  joined 
the  Republican  party  were  generally  so  des- 
ignated. 

"  Republican  rule  and  administration  here 
were  so  corrupt  and  demoralizing,  that  we 
who  gathered  under  the  Democratic  banner 
and  stood  for  exclusive  white  supremacy  dur- 
ing the  heat  and  passion  of  the  struggle,  held 
every  white  man  who  was  against  us  as  our 
foe  and  grouped  them  all  under  the  general 
term  '  scalawag  ' ;  but,  in  truth,  the  designa- 
tion was  as  to  many  of  them  unjust,  and  I  am 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN     117 

desirous  not  to  do  any  man  injustice.  There 
were  very  few,  if  any,  of  the  carpetbaggers 
who  were  entitled  to  respect  or  confidence. 
No  viler  crew  of  conscienceless  adventurers 
ever  invaded  a  conquered  and  oppressed  land ; 
but  there  were  many  southern  men  who  had 
been  faithful  to  the  fortunes  of  the  Confed- 
eracy and  who  had  been  good  soldiers,  who 
joined  the  Republican  party.  One  distin- 
guished gentleman,  and  one  among  the  best 
fighters  in  the  whole  Confederate  army,  is  a 
Republican.  The  men  of  this  class  argued 
that  the  Republican  party  was  in  power  and 
that  we  were  helpless  to  resist  the  legislation 
directed  against  the  South,  termed  the  Recon- 
struction statutes,  and  that  they  could  be  able 
in  a  large  degree  to  control  the  ignorant 
negroes  and  corrupt  carpetbaggers,  and  miti- 
gate the  evils  and  horrors  of  Reconstruction. 
I  was  not  able,  myself,  to  agree  with  them,  or 
reconcile  their  conduct  to  my  standards;  but 
I  knew  many  of  them  to  be  honest  men,  and 
they  kept  their  hands  clean,  and  I  am  inclined 
to  think  now  that  they,  perhaps,  have  ren- 
dered useful  services  to  their  people — that  is 
to  say,  at  least,  some  of  them  have." 

"  You  asked  me,  Colonel  Marshall,  a  few 
minutes  ago,  if  I  knew  of  the  conditions  that 
you  portrayed,  and  I  desire  to  say  that  I  cer- 
tainly did  not.  I  heard  of  misgovernment 
here,  but  was  told  that  it  was  the  complaint 
of  rebels,  and  gave  little  attention  to  it. 


ii8    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

"  I  prefer,  Mr.  Standwick,"  returned  his 
host,  "  to  believe  that  the  northern  people  did 
not  know  what  we  underwent.  It  would 
shake  my  faith  in  my  kind  to  believe  that 
American  citizens  living  in  any  section  under- 
stood our  situation,  and  yet  upheld  at  the 
ballot-box  those  responsible  for  it,  and  who 
sought  to  perpetuate  such  iniquity.  How- 
ever, though  the  night  has  been  long,  the  day 
is  beginning  to  dawn.  Slowly  and  surely  the 
people  of  the  North  are  coming  to  learn  that 
they  cannot  recast  or  repeal  the  laws  of 
nature;  that  they  cannot  turn  back  the  tide  of 
human  progress;  that  the  Ethiopian  can  no 
more  change  his  skin  or  the  leopard  his  spots 
now  than  they  could  two  thousand  years  ago. 
The  truth  has  dawned  upon  them  that  intelli- 
gence and  virtue  and  patriotism  will  ulti- 
mately triumph  over  ignorance  and  corruption 
and  barbarism,  and  that  no  power  in  all  the 
earth  can  keep  the  white  man  in  subordination 
to  the  negro.  Intellectually,  physically  and 
morally,  the  white  man  bears  the  divine  stamp 
of  superiority  to  men  of  every  race!  He  is 
the  Heaven-endowed  leader  of  the  forces  of 
civilization  and  progress  and  Christianity; 
and  judged  by  ethnological  and  all  other  tests 
and  standards,  the  negro  is  his  inferior  and 
can  never  rise  to  his  level.  There  is  no  bridge 
that  can  span  the  gulf  which  God  has  placed 
between  them.  The  day  is  coming,  though 
you  and  I  will  not  live  to  see  it,  when  the 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN     119 

people  of  the  North  will  cry  out  for  the  repeal 
of  every  constitutional  provision  and  every 
statute  that  gives  the  negro  political  equality. 
Social  equality  is,  of  course,  impossible.  No 
law  can  control  that,  even  between  people  of 
the  same  race;  and  even  the  suggestion  of  its 
possibility  between  the  white  man  and  the 
negro  is  so  absurd  as  to  provoke  impatience 
and  indignation.  The  irrepressible,  uncon- 
querable racial  instinct  is  a  barrier  that  no 
social  ambition  can  scale.  The  white  man 
who  attempts  to  enforce  or  illustrate  social 
equality  will  only  lower  himself  without  up- 
lifting the  negro. 

"  I  have  said  much  more  than  I  had  in- 
tended to  say,  Mr.  Standwick,  but  I  trust  you 
will  not  think  that  any  statement  I  have  made 
is  in  the  slightest  degree  inspired  by  prejudice 
or  ill-feeling,  either  against  the  people  of  the 
North  or  the  negro. 

"  While,  of  course,  the  invasion  of  the 
South  was  unnecessary,  unjustifiable  and  cruel, 
yet  the  issues  involved  in  the  war,  and  the 
only  ones  the  war  did  settle — slavery  and 
secession — have  been  settled  in  that  tribunal 
from  the  judgments  of  which  there  is  no  ap- 
peal, and  it  is  folly  to  discuss  barren  abstrac- 
tions, or  to  mourn  over  that  which  cannot  be 
changed  or  recalled. 

"  I  gave  up  two  sons  to  defend  a  just  and 
righteous  cause,  and  my  heart  goes  out  to 
every  northern  father  who  suffered  such  a 


120    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

loss  as  I  suffered,  or  made  such  a  sacrifice  as 
I  made.  I  gave  also  a  lovely  daughter.  I 
say  gave  her,  for  she  was  as  directly  a  victim 
of  the  war  as  if  she  had  fallen  in  battle.  I 
trust  I  can  forgive,  though  I  can  never  forget 
the  indignities  put  upon  my  family  and  my- 
self, by  the  soldiers  of  the  United  States,  and 
negro  soldiers  at  that. 

"  I  have  never  turned  a  white  Federal 
soldier — none  others  applied — from  my  door, 
whom  we  could  help.  I  have  had  during  the 
war  sometimes  four  wounded  men  in  this 
house  at  once,  and  my  wife  and  servants 
dressed  their  wounds  and  watched  by  their 
beds.  I  received  them  of  my  own  free  will. 
They  were  not  forced  upon  me,  and  I  did 
everything  in  my  power  for  them,  forgetting 
all  but  that  they  were  fellow-men  in  distress; 
somebody's  boys  whom  I  watched  and  tended 
and  gave  back  to  their  mothers,  alive  and 
well,  and  not  as  my  boys  came  to  me,  straight- 
ened for  the  tomb.  I  tried  to  display  the 
same  spirit  which  my  great  countryman,  Gen- 
eral Lee,  showed  when  a  poor  fellow  knocked 
at  his  door  for  help,  shortly  after  the  war 
closed.  He  relieved  his  necessities,  and  when 
his  wife  asked  if  it  was  '  one  of  our  old  boys,' 
the  General  replied,  '  No,  he  fought  on  the 
other  side;  but  we  must  not  think  of  that 
now.' 

"  As  to  the  negro,  I  was  born  on  a  planta- 
tion. My  father  and  his  father  were  slave 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN     lai 

owners,  just  as  I  was.  In  lieu  of  my  mother's 
milk,  I  drew  nourishment  from  the  breast  of  a 
slave.  The  crooning  of  lullaby  songs  by  my 
'  black  mammy '  soothed  me  to  sleep  many  a 
night — just  as  Ned  and  Hester  sang  my  sons 
and  my  daughter  to  sleep. 

"  I  have  never  made  a  negro  who  had  been 
my  slave  leave  this  place.  I  have  kept  them 
when  they  were  lazy  and  worthless.  I  have 
fed  them  and  housed  them  and  taken  care  of 
them  when  they  were  well,  and  buried  them 
decently  when  death  took  them.  They  were 
most  faithful  during  the  war,  and  I  have  tried 
to  show  my  appreciation  of  their  fidelity. 
They  are  very  improvident  and  shiftless,  but 
neither  my  wife  nor  I  ever  turned  any  of 
them  away  that  were  in  need.  I  know  their 
virtues  and  their  faults,  and  their  limitations 
in  intelligence  and  morals,  as  you  of  the 
North  can  never  possibly  know,  and  I  feel  to- 
ward them  as  do  nine-tenths  of  the  people  of 
the  South  who  owned  slaves. 

"  You  know,  or  perhaps  you  do  not,  that 
between  negroes  when  they  were  slaves,  and 
since  they  have  been  free,  and  those  of  the 
South  who  owned  no  slaves,  there  is  and  al- 
ways has  been  a  traditional  and  unconquerable 
antagonism.  Any  honest  negro  will  tell  you 
that  his  best  friends  are  those  who  owned 
slaves,  and  that  negroes  never  hesitate  to  ap- 
peal to  their  former  masters,  or  any  former 
slave  owner  whom  they  know,  for  help. 


122    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

"  In  the  trial  of  criminal  cases,  where 
negroes  are  defendants,  every  lawyer  capable 
of  trying  a  criminal  case  will,  so  far  as  possi- 
ble, try  to  get  on  the  jury  all  the  men  who 
once  owned  slaves,  or  the  descendants  of  such 
men,  and  to  keep  off  the  jury  those  of  the  class 
which  did  not  own  slaves. 

"  While  this  is  all  true,  yet  I  know,  and  the 
people  of  the  South  know,  that  the  negro  is 
not  fit  to  exercise  the  privilege  of  suffrage  and 
will  not  be  for  generations  to  come,  if  ever 
he  is.  We  know,  too,  that  conferring  upon 
him  the  right  to  vote  was  worse  than  a  mis- 
take; it  was  the  monumental  crime  of  the 
age.  It  wrought  irreparable  injury  to  the 
negro  and  to  the  nation.  It  was  the  very 
fury  and  frenzy  of  political  bitterness  and 
prejudice,  and  the  people  of  the  North  will 
some  day  come  to  know  it." 

"  Colonel  Marshall,"  said  Mr.  Standwick, 
"  it  is  a  great  pity  that  what  you  say,  and  what 
I  have  seen  and  heard  and  believe  to  be  true, 
could  not  have  been  made  plain  to  the  people 
of  New  England  as  soon  as  the  war  ended." 

"  It  was  impossible,  Mr.  Standwick.  The 
tide  of  human  passion  ran  too  high  then. 
The  roar  of  the  storm  of  sectional  hate  which 
swept  over  the  Republic  drowned  out  all  we 
said  and  we  fell  upon  evil  days. 

"  Do  you  know,  my  friend,  what  was  the 
direst  calamity  that  ever  befell  the  South?  It 
was  the  death  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  was 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN     123 

a  broad-minded,  tender-hearted,  patriotic 
man;  and  while  I  can  never  agree  with  his 
construction  of  the  Constitution,  or  with  his 
views  as  to  the  right  of  the  National  Govern- 
ment to  coerce  a  sovereign  State,  nevertheless, 
had  he  lived,  such  would  have  been  the  force 
of  his  great  character,  and  the  extent  of  his 
influence  over  his  party,  that  we  would  have 
been  spared  the  horrible  ordeal  of  Reconstruc- 
tion. 

;'  When  pigmies  tried  to  perform  the  task 
of  giants,  and  partisans  took  patriot's  places, 
the  South  was  made  the  victim  of  the  most  in- 
famous and  oppressive  system  of  government, 
or  rather  of  misgovernment,  that  ever  defiled 
the  annals  of  a  nation.  Had  he  not  been 
taken  off,  every  State  would  have  been  speed- 
ily restored  to  its  normal  and  constitutional 
relations  to  the  Union,  and  the  restoration  of 
kindly  feeling  between  the  people  of  the  two 
sections  would  have  been  much  sooner  accom- 
plished." 

'  Your  statement,  Mr.  Marshall,  concern- 
ing Mr.  Lincoln,  is  very  surprising  to  me.  I 
have  always  believed  he  was  the  object  of 
especial  hatred  to  the  people  of  the  South." 

'  There  is  no  doubt,  Mr.  Standwick,  that 
the  southern  people  were  greatly  prejudiced 
against  him  when  he  was  elected  President, 
but  as  we  look  back  upon  his  actions  as  Presi- 
dent and  compare  him  with  those  whose  coun- 
sels prevailed  after  he  passed  away,  we  realize 


124    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

how  much  greater  and  more  patriotic  he  was 
than  any  of  his  contemporaries  in  his  own 
party. 

;<  We  feel  sure  that  if  instead  of  being 
killed,  he  had  only  been  wounded,  and  it  had 
been  proposed  to  arrest  Jefferson  Davis  or  to 
charge  him  with  connection  with  the  deed  of 
the  misguided  Booth,  Mr.  Lincoln  would 
have  protested  against  the  arrest.  He  was 
too  just  a  man,  and  knew  too  well  the  char- 
acter of  Mr.  Davis,  to  have  even  suspected 
him  of  being  in  sympathy  with  that  deed, 
which  he  could  have  no  more  encouraged  or 
aided  the  commission  of,  than  he  could  have 
strangled  a  sleeping  babe. 

"  The  passions  born  of  sectional  strife  have 
not  entirely  subsided,  but  we  can  contemplate 
the  character  of  Mr.  Lincoln  in  a  somewhat 
clearer  light,  and  weigh  his  deeds  in  juster 
scales,  and  no  man  that  does  can  deny  that 
his  name  is  entitled  to  a  high  place  on  the 
roll  of  great  Americans. 

"  Dissenting  as  I  must  and  ever  shall  from 
the  views  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  yet  I  recognize 
that  he  was  one  of  the  great  men  of  history, 
and  thousands  of  my  fellow-countrymen  of 
the  South  agree  with  me  in  this  regard.  He 
was  tender-hearted,  sympathetic,  and  sincere; 
and  he  was  a  great  man,  if  measured  by  the 
severest  tests  and  standards." 

"  However  much  we  may  differ,  Colonel, 
upon  other  questions,"  said  Mr.  Standwick, 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN     125 

"  I  am  sure  that  as  to  Mr.  Lincoln  we  are  in 
entire  accord,  and  am  equally  sure  we  will  be 
concerning  another  matter  of  which  I  desire 
to  speak. 

"  During  my  ride  through  the  country,  I 
noticed  where  evidently  many  houses  had  been 
burned — many  tall  chimneys  are  standing  even 
yet.  Yesterday  I  rode  in  a  northerly  direc- 
tion, and  I  saw  evidence  of  many  other  houses 
having  been  burned,  and  near  the  ruins  I  saw 
are  small,  rough,  uncomfortable  houses,  evi- 
dently meant  to  be  temporary. 

"  I  was  told  that  every  pile  of  ruins  with 
standing  chimney  marks  where  there  stood  a 
splendid  mansion,  or  at  least  a  commodious 
residence,  the  abode  of  comfort  if  not  of  great 
wealth,  and  that  every  one  of  these  buildings 
was  burned  by  the  Federal  army.  It  is,  I 
suppose,  true,  but  it  is  as  difficult  as  it  is 
humiliating  for  me  to  believe  that  American 
soldiers  could  be  guilty  of  such  needless  de- 
struction of  private  property.  I  blushed  as  I 
looked  upon  such  scenes  of  destruction  and 
desolation.  I  had  heard  that  such  was  the 
case,  but  it  was  so  incredible  I  laughed  at  the 
statement." 

;'  What  you  have  heard,  Mr.  Standwick, 
is  lamentably  true.  Not  only  were  houses 
burned  after  being  robbed,  but  non-combat- 
ants of  every  age  and  condition  were  left 
shelterless,  penniless,  without  food  and  often 
only  half  clad.  We  had  never  conceived  of 


126    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

the  possibility  of  such  a  warfare  of  destruc- 
tion, and  of  outrage  upon  the  innocent  and 
helpless.  My  daughter  was  visiting  only  a 
few  miles  away,  and  the  house  she  was  in  was 
burned  at  night,  and  she  was  left  hardly  more 
than  half  dressed,  in  a  driving  rain-storm  and 
utterly  without  shelter;  and  only  the  fact  that 
by  the  merest  chance  Captain  Charles  Stan- 
wick,  who  was  a  Federal  captain,  passed  the 
place  while  on  duty  and  placed  her  on  his 
saddle-horse  and  wrapped  her  in  his  overcoat 
and  brought  her  home,  saved  her  life.  From 
that  night's  horror  and  exposure  she  never 
recovered,  and  she  died  from  the  effects  of  it, 
combined  with  grief  for  one  she  loved  who 
fell  in  battle. 

"  Do  you  wonder  that  we  have  no  respect 
for  the  commander  of  the  army  which  com- 
mitted such  excesses?  I  have  none  and  pro- 
fess none. 

"  How  different  was  the  conduct  of  the 
Confederate  commander  in  Pennsylvania. 
General  Lee  gave  imperative  orders  that  pri- 
vate property  should  not  be  molested — and 
his  orders  were  obeyed. 

"  General  John  B.  Gordon  told  the  people 
along  the  route  of  his  army  that  if  any  mem- 
ber of  his  command  laid  his  hand  upon  the 
property  of  any  citizen,  or  molested  any  man's 
house  or  family,  and  they  would  point  out  the 
offender,  they  should  have  his  life. 

"  How  nobly  did  the  conduct  of  General 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN     127 

Grant  contrast  with  that  of  him  who  led  the 
army  that  wrought  such  ruin  here.  General 
Grant  did  not  destroy  homes,  or  wage  war- 
fare on  non-combatants. 

"  Relentlessly,  with  bull-dog  pertinacity 
and  consummate  skill,  he  pursued  the  one  ob- 
ject of  crushing  the  worn  and  weary  and  half- 
starved  army  of  his  great  antagonist  and 
thereby  ending  the  war;  but  he  did  not  lay 
waste  and  desolate  the  land  and  leave  women 
and  children  to  starve  and  freeze.  He  was 
too  chivalrous,  too  kind  of  heart,  and  too 
great  a  soldier  to  mar  a  glorious  record 
by  deeds  of  barbarous  atrocity.  He  was 
matched  against  him  who  was  not  only  the 
ablest  military  commander  of  ancient  or  mod- 
ern times,  but  who,  in  grandeur  of  character 
and  glory  of  achievement,  in  moral  and  in- 
tellectual equipoise,  and  in  purity  and  sub- 
limity of  character,  approached  nearer  to 
Divinity  than  any  man  that  ever  lived. 

"  It  is  a  pleasure  to  contemplate  two  such 
men,  for  they  were  two  great  Americans, 
whose  characters  and  deeds  reflect  unfading 
glory  upon  this  nation. 

"  How  chivalrously  did  General  Grant 
treat  General  Lee  in  the  hour  of  surrender! 
What  delicacy  and  consideration  for  his  noble 
foeman !  He  displayed  no  feeling  of  tri- 
umph, he  did  not  gloat  over  his  vanquished 
antagonist.  He  did  not  seek  to  humiliate 
him,  but  treated  him  with  the  chivalric  court- 


128    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

esy  so  justly  due  to  the  knightliest  and  noblest 
of  men. 

"  The  lofty  and  generous  conduct  of  their 
great  commander  seems  to  have  made  its  in- 
fluence felt  upon  his  men,  and  when  they 
opened  their  haversacks  and  offered  all  their 
rations  to  the  hungry  Confederates  there  was 
presented  a  scene  worthy  to  have  been  per- 
petuated on  immortal  canvas. 

"  Mr.  Standwick,  whatever  may  be  our 
opinions  relative  to  the  war,  its  causes,  char- 
acter or  results,  and  however  widely  different 
may  be  our  views,  we,  in  common  with  other 
men  who  are  capable  of  appreciating  the  noble 
and  heroic  in  human  character,  will  agree  that 
when  Ulysses  S.  Grant  and  Robert  E.  Lee 
met  upon  that  battlefield,  those  who  beheld 
that  meeting  looked  upon  two  of  the  sons  of 
men  who  belong  in  the  Pantheon  of  the  Im- 
mortals. 

"  I  am  sure  you  will  bear  with  me  a  few 
minutes  longer  while  I  recall  another  incident 
in  the  life  of  General  Grant,  which  enshrined 
him  in  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the  people 
of  the  South.  While  he  was  still  in  command 
of  the  army,  some  of  those  in  authority  at 
Washington  threatened  to  arrest  General  Lee, 
in  violation  of  the  terms  of  his  parole.  Gen- 
eral Grant  was  informed  of  the  purpose  at 
his  headquarters  in  New  York.  At  once  he 
hastened  to  Washington.  Striding  into  the 
presence  of  the  conspirators  against  the  free- 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN     129 

dom  of  General  Lee,  he  said,  '  I  gave  General 
Lee  his  parole,  and  he  has  observed  it  like  the 
honorable  soldier  and  gentleman  that  he  is, 
and  if  you  lay  your  hands  upon  him  to  arrest 
him,  I  will  break  my  sword  and  throw  it  with 
my  commission  at  your  feet.'  Are  you  sur- 
prised that  side  by  side  with  the  picture  of 
General  Lee  and  Jefferson  Davis  in  this  room 
you  find  the  picture  of  General  Grant?  " 

"  I  am  not,  since  I  know  the  opinion  you 
hold  concerning  General  Grant,  with  which  I 
fully  agree ;  but  I  had  been  led  to  believe  that 
no  southern  man,  entertaining  views  which 
you  do  as  to  the  war  and  the  rights  of  the 
South,  holds  in  such  high  esteem  the  man  who 
was  victorious  over  your  most  beloved  com- 
mander." 

"  You  will  find,  my  dear  friend,  that  the 
people  of  the  South  are  broader-minded  and 
fairer-minded  than  you  think  them  to  be,  and 
I  believe  I  can  prove  to  you — of  course,  mean- 
ing neither  offense  nor  criticism — that  they  are 
much  more  so  than  are  the  people  of  the 
North. 

"  If  Mr.  Lincoln  were  alive  and  were  to 
visit  the  South  to-day,  he  would  be  received 
cordially,  entertained  hospitably,  and  treated 
with  all  the  consideration  due  him,  in  view  of 
his  great  distinction  and  his  exalted  character. 
He  would  be  as  safe  from  discourtesy  or  in- 
sult as  he  would  be  in  Illinois,  and  he  would 
be  at  liberty  to  speak  his  honest  convictions 


130    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

with  perfect  freedom.  That  this  is  true, 
there  is  not  a  shadow  of  a  doubt. 

"  Now,  suppose  Jefferson  Davis  should 
visit  New  England — do  you  believe  he  would 
be  entertained  by  your  best  people,  or  be  al- 
lowed to  speak  his  honest  convictions  without 
interruption,  or  even  be  treated  courteously? 
It  is,  judging  by  the  tone  and  temper  of  the 
northern  press,  practically  certain  that  he 
would  not. 

"  I  feel  sure  you  would  not  yourself  vouch 
for  his  safety,  at  least  you  would  not  guar- 
antee him  courteous  treatment.  You  cannot 
find  now  in  a  southern  paper  a  single  word  of 
unkindness  toward  Mr.  Lincoln,  while  the 
northern  press  has  exhausted  the  vocabulary 
of  abuse  in  denunciation  of  Mr.  Davis.  Yet, 
Mr.  Standwick,  Jefferson  Davis  is  in  every 
respect  as  worthy  of  the  admiration  and  con- 
fidence of  his  fellow-men  as  was  Mr.  Lincoln. 

"  Both  obeyed  their  convictions,  and  Mr. 
Davis  endured  the  horrors  of  a  dungeon  and 
faced  indictment  and  threatened  trial,  and  is 
yet  denied  the  rights  of  citizenship,  and  is  set 
apart  from  his  fellow-men  in  the  isolation  of 
political  martyrdom,  and  '  arch-traitor '  is  a 
favorite  phrase  applied  to  him  by  the  north- 
ern press  and  northern  politicians. 

'  That  he  was  not  a  traitor  any  intelligent 
man  knows.  His  conviction  of  the  crime  of 
treason  was  absolutely  impossible,  and  this 
great  government,  with  all  its  power,  though 


NED:    NIGGER   AN1    GENTMAN     131 

it  had  procured  him  to  be  indicted  in  a  court 
presided  over  by  the  Chief  Justice  of  the  most 
august  judicial  tribunal  on  earth,  dared  not 
try  him. 

"  Mr.  Davis  was  not  one  whit  more  guilty 
than  was  I,  or  millions  of  others  of  his  coun- 
trymen, and  for  my  sentiments  and  actions  as 
regards  the  '  war  of  the  rebellion,'  as  our 
northern  neighbors  are  pleased  to  term  it,  my 
conscience  is  void  of  offense  toward  God  or 
man. 

"  I  have  seen  Mr.  Davis  painted  in  the 
northern  press  as  a  conspirator  and  murderer 
and  ruffian,  an  arrogant,  domineering,  resent- 
ful, bitter  foe  of  the  Union  and  the  northern 
people,  while  the  truth  is — and  I  know  him 
well — he  is  a  courteous,  Christian  gentleman, 
the  greatest  master  of  the  English  tongue  on 
this  continent,  a  statesman,  an  orator,  a 
soldier,  and  a  man  of  unswerving  fidelity  to 
his  convictions. 

"  He  has  never  since  the  war  given  utter- 
ance to  a  word  of  abuse  or  unkindness  toward 
the  northern  people,  but  has  always  urged 
upon  the  people  of  the  South  obedience  to 
law,  respect  for  the  powers  that  be,  and  hon- 
est effort  to  restore  good  feeling  between 
brethren  long  estranged. 

'  You  know,  of  course,  Mr.  Standwick, 
how  brilliant  and  gallant  was  his  conduct  dur- 
ing the  Mexican  war,  when  he  shed  his  blood 
under  the  stars  and  stripes;  and  that  he  was 


i32    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

Secretary  of  War  in  the  only  Cabinet  that  has 
ever  remained  unchanged  for  four  years  since 
the  foundation  of  this  government,  and  with 
what  conscientious  fidelity  and  consummate 
ability  he  discharged  the  duties  of  that  high 
trust?  Yet  his  successors  in  that  great  office, 
with  unpatriotic  and  malignant  purpose,  con- 
trived means  whereby  to  hoist  a  workman 
high  in  the  air,  in  order  that  he  might  cut  out 
of  the  granite  where  it  had  been  graven  in 
honor  of  Jefferson  Davis,  his  name — which 
appeared  on  a  great  public  structure  erected 
during  his  term  of  office. 

"  I  put  down  much  of  this  to  the  bitter- 
ness and  passion  born  of  war,  but  there  is  no 
excuse  or  justification  for  abuse  and  misrep- 
resentation of  a  man  who  is  one  of  the  most 
illustrious  of  Americans.  I  should  be 
ashamed  to  speak  or  even  think  of  Mr.  Lin- 
coln or  General  Grant  in  such  terms  as  mil- 
lions of  your  northern  neighbors  speak  of 
Jefferson  Davis — yet  neither  of  these  great 
men  was,  or  is,  one  whit  worthier  than  is  he." 

"  I  must  confess,  Colonel,  that  northern 
people  do  not  entertain  a  very  kindly  feeling 
for  Mr.  Davis.  Indeed,  they  seem  disposed 
to  hold  him  responsible  for  secession,  and  the 
war  in  great  measure;  yet,  I  can  readily  see 
that  he  was  not  logically,  or  in  fact,  more  so 
than  were  thousands  of  others." 

"  When  you  know  us  better,  Mr.  Stand- 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN     133 

wick,  you  will  be  better  able  to  appreciate  our 
actions  and  our  motives,  and  will  find  that  we 
have  been  cruelly  maligned." 

"  I  have,  sir,  found  that  out  already.  I 
am  abundantly  assured  of  the  error  of  many 
views  which  I  have  long  held,  and  northern 
man  and  Union  man  that  I  am,  and  strong  in 
the  conviction  that  secession  was  not  constitu- 
tional or  justifiable, — as  I  expect  ever  to  be, — 
I  have  no  language  to  express  my  abhorrence 
of  him  or  those  who  are  responsible  for  the 
fearful  destruction  and  devastation  I  have 
seen  here." 

"  The  northern  people,"  said  Colonel  Mar- 
shall, "  I  trust  and  believe  will  learn  the  truth 
yet,  and  do  us  justice,  and  I  pray  God  that 
they  may — because  peace  will  come  only  when 
men  on  both  sides  of  the  line  accord  each  to 
the  other  integrity  of  purpose,  and  fidelity  to 
honest  conviction." 

"  It  is  late,"  said  Mr.  Standwick,  "  but 
there  is  one  incident,  an  occurrence  of  which 
Ned  has  given  me  some  intimation,  which  has 
greatly  interested  me,  and  that  is  the  tragedy 
with  which  Captain  Alston  was  connected  and 
the  cause  of  it;  and  if  you  have  no  objection 
I  would  be  pleased  to  hear  more  of  it.  It 
presents  a  phase  and  reflection  of  public  senti- 
ment here — which  is  as  interesting  to  me  as  it 
is  surprising." 

" 1  have  no  objection  to  telling  you  of  every 


134    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

incident  connected  with  the  matter  preceding 
the  actual  tragedy.  What  occurred  after 
that,  it  would  be  more  becoming  in  me  to  let 
others  tell  you  of,  and  Ned  will  do  that  in  his 
own  way,  I  have  no  doubt.  So  it  is  unneces- 
sary for  me  to  go  beyond,  or  even  as  far  as 
the  tragedy  itself. 


CHAPTER   IX 

"  I  AM  sure,  Mr.  Standwick,  you  have  formed 
a  favorable  opinion  of  Captain  Alston.  No 
man  with  even  the  most  casual  acquaintance 
could  fail  to  do  so." 

"  I  certainly  have,"  said  Mr.  Standwick. 
"  Unless  I  know  absolutely  nothing  of  human 
character,  he  is  a  man  in  every  respect  admir- 
able— honest,  kind,  courteous,  brave,  and 
gentle.  I  feel  greatly  drawn  toward  him,  the 
more  especially  because  I  feel  sure  he  has  suf- 
fered some  sorrow  which  has  wrung  his 
heart." 

'  Your  conclusions  are  correct.  Captain 
Alston  is  a  gentleman  by  breeding,  instinct 
and  education.  I  am  his  senior  by  more  than 
twenty  years,  and  have  known  him  since  he 
was  born.  He  never  harbored  a  dishonor- 
able or  even  questionable  thought  or  purpose. 

"  In  the  army,  as  a  cavalry  commander,  he 
displayed  not  only  courage  of  the  highest 
type, — that  was  a  matter  of  course, — but 
marked  aptitude  for  command  and  the  execu- 
tion of  daring  and  dangerous  achievements, 
and  he  rode  and  fought  like  the  very  genius 
of  battle  incarnate.  His  men  were  devotedly 
attached  to  him,  and  he  to  them,  so  closely 
135 


136    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

that  he  time  and  again  refused  promotion  and 
served  with  his  original  company  to  the  end. 

"  He  was  and  is  as  gentle  and  tender  as  he 
is  brave  and  honorable,  and  like  all  of  his 
breed  and  blood,  he  is  the  soul  of  courage  and 
of  honor. 

"  His  wife  died  when  Jean  was  born,  and 
upon  his  motherless  daughter  he  lavished  all 
the  affections  of  his  noble  and  tender  nature, 
and  she  grew  into  lovely  girlhood  and  young 
womanhood  almost  as  one  of  my  children, 
and  her  love  of  her  father  was  well  nigh 
idolatrous. 

"  When  he  returned  from  the  war  of  course 
his  financial  condition  was  greatly  changed  for 
the  worse;  but  Jean  adapted  herself  to  the 
situation  with  uncomplaining  cheerfulness, 
and  the  two  were  more  like  brother  and  sister 
than  father  and  daughter. 

"  I  had  no  idea  of  the  cause  of  Jean's  de- 
cline. I  saw  her  fading  and  failing  day  by 
day,  and  was  almost  as  deeply  distressed  as  if 
she  had  been  my  own  daughter;  but  there 
never  came  to  my  ears  hint  or  intimation  of 
the  cause — and  indeed  my  wife  did  not  know 
or  hear  of  the  vile  rumors  and  slanderous  re- 
ports until  a  few  days  before  death  released 
the  innocent  young  sufferer. 

"  Had  the  slanderer's  name  been  revealed 
to  me,  I  think  I  would  have  killed  him  as  I 
would  have  killed  a  mad  dog.  When  I  heard 
of  them,  when  it  was  made  clear  to  me  that 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENTMAN     137 

a  sweet  and  lovely  young  woman  had  been 
slain  by  the  shafts  of  slander,  I  was  filled 
with  rage,  and  my  first  impulse  was  to  see 
her  father  and  let  him  know  the  truth.  It 
may  have  been  that  had  I  reflected  I  would 
have  acted  differently;  but  I  am  by  no  means 
sure  that  I  would,  and  I  do  not  mean  to  be 
understood  as  expressing  or  even  intimating 
regret  for  my  action.  It  seemed  to  me  then, 
and  the  passing  years  have  not  changed  my 
views,  that  it  was  my  duty  to  Alston  as  his 
friend  to  let  him  know  the  truth. 

"  I  drove  to  his  house,  with  Ned,  of  course. 
It  was  only  a  few  days  after  the  funeral  of 
Jean.  Alston  was  sitting  in  a  large  arm- 
chair before  the  fire  in  the  reception-hall,  the 
walls  of  which  were  covered  with  family  por- 
traits on  both  sides,  beginning  with  his  re- 
mote ancestors  and  reaching  down  to  his  wife, 
and  down  to  a  portrait  of  Jean  just  as  she 
was  entering  her  teens. 

"  He  was  the  picture  of  loneliness  and  des- 
olate grief,  but  he  rose  and  greeted  me  with 
an  effort  at  cheerfulness  and  cordiality.  His 
face  was  pale,  and  those  piercing  black  eyes 
looked  at  me  through  the  mists  of  tears,  and 
there  was  a  pathetic  tremor  in  his  voice. 
When  we  were  seated  I  said: 

"  'Alston,  I  am  your  friend,  as  you  know — 
a  friend  upon  whom  you  can  always  call  and 
always  rely.' 

"  He  looked  up  with  an  expression  of  sur- 


i38    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

prise,  and  he  seemed  to  feel  that  it  was  pre- 
liminary to  some  other  statement  in  which 
he  would  be  deeply  interested,  but  he  replied 
in  his  sincere  and  gentle  tones: 

"  '  I  know  it,  Marshall.  I  am  proud  of 
your  friendship.' 

"  '  Alston,  do  you  know  what  killed  Jean, 
whom  I  loved  as  I  did  my  own  daughter  ? '  I 
said. 

"  '  No,  Colonel,  I  do  not,'  he  replied.  *  The 
doctors  were  unable  to  tell  me.' 

"  '  No,'  I  said,  '  they  did  not,  because  they 
did  not  know.  The  cause  of  her  death  was 
beyond  the  reach  of  learning  and  scientific 
skill.  Your  daughter  was  killed  by  poison.' 

"  '  What!  Poison?  It  must  have  been  a 
most  mysterious,  slow,  and  subtle  poison  to 
defy  the  skill  I  bought  to  save  her.' 

"  '  I  do  not  mean  she  was  poisoned  in  her 
body,  but  in  her  heart  and  soul — poisoned, 
too,  by  the  tongue  of  a  damned  slanderer.' 

"  Alston,  in  an  instant,  from  a  half-reclin- 
ing position  in  the  deep  chair,  sat  upright,  and 
fixing  his  eyes  upon  me  said,  '  What  do  you 
mean,  Marshall? ' 

"  4 1  mean  that  a  foul  and  lying  tongue 
coupled  her  name  with  impurity  and  killed 
her  as  certainly  as  if  the  slanderer  had  driven 
a  dagger  through  her  heart.' 

"'Oh,  no,  Marshall;  oh,  no.  You  are 
mistaken,'  and  he  smiled  a  pathetic,  incredu- 
lous smile,  and  shook  his  head  as  if  to  say, 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN     139 

'  What  you  say  cannot  possibly  be  true.'  '  I 
have  read  that  there  are  those  so  base  that 
they  delight  to  revile  and  slander  the  pure  in 
heart,  but  there  is  not  upon  the  earth — no, 
Marshall,  there  cannot  be  found  in  the  realms 
of  the  damned,  one  fiend  who  could  conceive  a 
purpose  so  vile  as  to  say  that  which  could  even 
for  an  instant  have  cast  a  shadow  upon  the 
surface  of  her  stainless  soul.  Her  life  was 
too  pure,  too  gentle,  too  free  from  earthly 
dross  or  taint  to  give  even  blackest  malice 
ground  to  say  evil  of  her.' 

"  *  I  know  that,  Alston,  yet  she  did  not 
escape  calumny.  Would  to  God  she  had. 
A  man  whose  offer  of  marriage  she  refused 
has  filled  this  county  with  the  poison  of  vile 
slander,  and  her  life  was  destroyed  by  its 
falseness  and  foulness.' 

'  'Oh,  no,  Marshall;  none  but  gentlemen 
have  sought  her  hand  in  marriage,  I  am  sure, 
and  what  you  say  must,  of  course,  be  impos- 
sible.' 

'  Perhaps  she  did  not  tell  you,  but  there 
was  one  not  a  gentleman  who  dared  ask  her 
to  marry  him.' 

"'Who  was  it?' 

"  '  Jack  Harper.' 

"  Alston  sprang  to  his  feet  and  grasped 
the  back  of  a  chair  standing  near.  He  looked 
at  me  till  it  seemed  as  if  those  piercing  eyes 
would  look  me  through.  Blended  expressions 
of  astonishment,  incredulity,  and  rage  passed 


i4o    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

over  his  face.  He  breathed  deep  and  hard. 
His  face  was  as  white  as  the  handkerchief 
he  held  to  his  lips,  and  after  what  seemed 
to  me  an  hour,  but  was  doubtless  but  a  mo- 
ment, he  said,  '  Jack  Harper  ask  my  daughter 
to  marry  him?  The  son  of  an  overseer,  a 
plebeian  cur,  ask  in  marriage  the  hand  of  the 
daughter  of  an  Alston?  Iknew  she  and  he 
had  been,  as  little  tots,  schoolmates  in  the 
country  school,  and  that  out  of  the  very  sweet- 
ness and  kindness  and  gentleness  of  her  na- 
ture she  did  not  wound  his  feelings  by  repel- 
ling him  when  he  presumed  to  cross  the 
threshold  of  my  house,  but  I  did  not  know 
that  he  had  dared  offer  her  such  an  insult  and 
indignity,  and  it  is  well  I  did  not.  But  there 
must  be  some  mistake ! ' 

"  '  No,  Alston,  there  is  no  mistake.  Jean 
refused  Jack  Harper's  offer,  and  then  and 
there  he  threatened  her  with  revenge,  and  he 
took  revenge  in  its  foulest,  basest,  most  cow- 
ardly, most  damnable  form.  There  is  no 
doubt  of  it.  It  is  in  the  very  air.  My  wife 
told  me  of  it,  hundreds  can  repeat  and  by  their 
testimony  prove  it.  You  and  I  alone  did  not 
know,  had  not  heard  it.  He  has  coupled  her 
name  in  dishonor  with  his  own  and  has  used 
it  in  ribald  jest.' 

"  '  Marshall,  for  God's  sake  say  you  do 
not  mean  that — it  cannot  be!  God  would 
not  permit  a  wretch  so  vile  to  poison  the  air ! ' 

"  '  Alston,  my  friend,'  I  said,   *  I  cannot 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN     141 

lie  to  you — what  I  have  said  is  true.     I  would 
give  my  right  arm  to  have  it  otherwise.' 

"  Alston's  eyes  flashed,  his  form  became 
almost  rigid.  His  face  grew  paler,  if  that 
were  possible,  and  releasing  his  hold  upon 
the  chair  he  staggered  to  the  mantel  and 
rested  against  it.  I  never  saw  such  anguish 
depicted  on  a  human  face.  After  a  few  min- 
utes, in  which  his  breath  came  quick  and  hard, 
he  said: 

"  '  Marshall,  on  these  walls  are  the  por- 
traits of  my  ancestors  for  generations — la- 
dies and  gentleman  all.  No  taint  or  stain 
ever  rested  upon  the  name  of  one  of  them. 
There  you  see  the  angel  face  of  my  wife, 
who  gave  me  Jean  at  the  price  of  her  own 
life.  I  have  never  seen  that  woman  who 
could  take  her  place  in  my  heart  and  home, 
and  in  large  measure  my  life  has  been  a 
lonely  one.  I  have  dared  danger,  I  have 
known  sorrow.  I  have  felt  the  sting  of  at 
least  comparative  poverty.  I  have  bowed  in 
anguish  unutterable  above  the  grave  of  my 
Jean,  but  dishonor  has  never  crossed  the 
threshold  of  my  house. 

'  No  man  ever  impugned  the  honor  or 
good  name  of  an  Alston  and  lived  to  repeat 
the  slander  after  an  Alston  knew  it.'  He 
paused  and  seized  a  photograph  of  Jean 
which  sat  before  him  and  which  had  been 
recently  taken,  and  holding  it  in  his  left 
hand,  which  partially  rested  on  the  mantel, 


I42    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

while  he  was  unconsciously  opening  and  clos- 
ing the  other  rapidly  as  it  hung  by  his 
side,  he  bent  his  eyes  close  upon  the  pic- 
ture and  spoke  to  it  in  soft,  caressing  tones. 
'  Oh,  my  darling,  your  face  is  so  much  like 
your  sainted  mother's — so  pure,  so  sweet,  so 
lovely !  You  were  the  dearest  child  that  ever 
brightened  a  home  or  gladdened  a  father's 
heart.  The  angels  around  the  throne  of  God 
are  not  purer  in  heart  and  purpose  than  were 
you,  my  sweet  child,  and  yet  the  slanderer 
did  not  spare  you.  With  the  venomous  shafts 
from  his  vile  tongue  he  took  your  life,  but 
you  shall  be  avenged !  I  will  wipe  out  your 
wrong  in  his  accursed  blood ! ' 

"  Then  turning  to  me  he  said,  '  Marshall, 
here  and  now  I  call  upon  you,  and  invoke  the 
spirit  of  my  ancestors  to  bear  me  witness 
while  I  swear  by  the  honor  of  the  Alston 
name,  by  the  memory  of  my  dead  wife,  by 
the  love  I  bear  my  daughter,  and  by  the  duty 
I  owe  to  womanhood  to  still  the  tongue  of 
the  slanderer  of  defenseless  innocence  and 
purity.  I  swear  that  Jack  Harper  shall  not 
live  to  see  the  sun  go  down ! ' 

"  '  Alston,  do  not  be  rash,'  I  said.  *  Re- 
member, conditions  have  changed  here.  The 
"  old  regime  "  has  for  a  time  passed  away. 
The  very  foundations  of  the  ancient  social 
temple  have  been  uprooted.  Ignorant  and 
corrupt  judges  disgrace  the  bench.  The  jury 
box  is  filled  with  ignorant  negroes,  and  if  you 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN     143 

keep  your  oath  it  is  impossible  that  your  act 
will  be  passed  upon  by  a  jury  of  your  peers, 
and  it  may  be  that  by  sheer  force  of  corrupt 
power,  wielded  by  those  who  are  utterly  un- 
able to  comprehend  or  appreciate  the  spirit 
and  meaning  of  the  higher  and  "  unwritten 
law,"  you  will  be  sent  to  prison  or  to  the  gal- 
lows.' 

"  He  raised  his  head  quickly  and  with 
flashing  eyes  he  said :  '  There  are  not  between 
the  oceans  enough  of  the  vile  crew  that  makes 
a  mockery  of  justice  and  defiles  the  temple  of 
the  law  to  send  me  to  a  prison  or  to  the  gal- 
lows. Now,  Marshall,  go!  I  love  you,  my 
friend,  but  go  and  leave  me  to  myself  and  my 
sorrow !  ' 

"  His  tone  was  imperative,  and  pressing  his 
hand  in  silence,  I  withdrew.  Ned  will  tell 
you  the  rest." 

Mr.  Standwick  listened  intently  to  the  re- 
cital of  Colonel  Marshall,  and  after  several 
moments  of  silence  said, 

"  Colonel,  I  have  intended  to  ask  you  one 
question  in  connection  with  what  you  have 
just  told  me — but  I  will  ask  you  at  another 
time.  It  is  already  later  than  I  thought,  and 
I  will  retire." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Colonel  Marshall.  "  I 
will  at  any  time  freely  and  frankly  answer 
any  question  germane  to  the  matter,"  and 
with  this  the  two  gentlemen  separated  for 
the  night. 


CHAPTER  X 

IN  the  morning  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Mar- 
shall returned  to  town,  pursuant  to  a  promise 
made  to  their  son,  and  renewed  upon  the  in- 
sistent demand  of  their  young  grandson.  Af- 
ter they  had  gone  and  Ned  had  finished  his 
chores,  Mr.  Standwick  reminded  him  that  he 
had  promised  to  tell  him  the  rest  of  the  story 
as  to  the  tragedy  of  which  Captain  Alston 
was,  as  Colonel  Marshall  had  intimated,  the 
central  figure. 

"  Ve'y  well,  sah.  I  tol'  you  how  t'other 
day  he  b'en  thu'  de  fi'y  fu'nace  uv  'flickshun, 
an'  I  gwine  tell  you  bout  him  an'  all  w'ut 
happen." 

"  Colonel  Marshall  has  told  me  about  the 
visit  he  made  to  Captain  Alston  when  you 
drove  him,  and  when  he  told  Captain  Alston 
of  the  slanders  upon  his  daughter's  character, 
and  he  told  me  about  the  death  of  Mrs.  Als- 
ton and  how  Miss  Jean  was  raised  almost  in 
his  family." 

"  All  right,  den,  boss,  I  gwine  tell  you  de 
res'.  Hester  an'  me  sot  a  sto'  by  her  an' 
Miss  Lucy,  an'  dey  was  jes'  lak  sisters.  Dey 
go  ter  de  neighborhood  school  an'  ter  de  big 
school  tergedder,  an'  erlong  'bout  de  middle 
144 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN     145 

er  de  wah  dey  was  mos'  grown,  an'  Miss 
Lucy,  wid  her  ha'r  lak  sugar  candy,  an'  Miss 
Jean  wid  hern  lak  crow's  fedders,  jes'  need 
wings  ter  be  angels.  'Twan't  no  use,  dough, 
fer  nobody  ter  be  settin'  up  ter  Miss  Lucy, 
'ca'se  she  done  gib  her  lub  ter  de  fines'  young 
man  w'ut  ebber  was  in  dese  parts,  Cap'n  Ar- 
thur Stan'ick,  de  'Fedrit  cap'n  on  our  side. 

"  Miss  Jean  'pear  lak  she  don'  keer  much 
'bout  none  er  de  young  men,  but  one  day  a 
man  fin'  her  heart  dat  she  ain't  speak  ter, 
an'  dat  she  didn't  want  ter  fin'  it,  an'  dat  man 
was  Cap'n  Chawles  Stan'ick;  but  sho'  ez  you 
bo'n  she  ain't  never  let  on  ter  dat  refec'  twell 
he  b'en  kilt  in  de  wah — den  it  was  er  s'prise 
ter  mos'  ev'ybody;  but  lub  don'  pay  no  'ten- 
shun  ter  wah  ner  de  color  ob  mini  forms,  but 
it  jes'  strike  whar  it  please. 

"  Howsomebber,  I  cain't  tell  you  'bout  all 
dese  matters  at  one  time,  so  I  tell  yer  now 
'bout  de  trubbel  w'ut  riz  over  a  man  foolin' 
erlong  er  Cap'n  Als'on. 

"  We'n  de  wah  stop,  ev'ybody  was  pow'ful 
po';  dey  didn'  had  no  money  ner  much  er 
nothin'  else;  dat  is,  all  'ceptin'  Marster — he 
ain't  never  b'en  broke.  He  done  al'ays  had 
money  lak  his  daddy  befo'  him.  He  hab 
dis  big  plan'ashun  an'  'bout  two  hunderd 
niggers,  an'  he  lib  lak  a  gent'man  dat  he  is; 
but  he  was  a  farmer  fer  true,  an'  he  put  erway 
money  fer  a  rainy  day.  Cap'n  Chawles  sabe 
his  house  an'  er  lot  er  cotton,  lak  he  sabe 


146    NED:    NIGGER   AN*    GENT'MAN 

Cap'n  Als'on's  house  too.  De  Cap'n  hab 
plenty  ter  eat  an'  er  good  farm,  but  he  ain't 
had  much  money,  an'  ain't  rich,  lak  he  was 
befo'  de  wah,  an'  Miss  Jean  couldn't  dress 
so  mighty  fine,  but  she  was  jes'  as  purty. 

"  Dat  man  Harper  w'ut  you  stay  wid 
t'other  night,  he  made  lots  er  money,  'ca'se  he 
wu'k  his  niggers  pow'ful  hard,  an'  feed  'em 
scan'lous  light,  an'  befo'  de  wah  he  was  rich, 
an'  lak  I  tell  you  t'other  day,  he  got  his  start 
oberseein'. 

'  You  notice  he  was  kind  er  lame,  an'  he 
ain't  go  ter  de  wah;  an'  w'en  de  wah  broke 
out  his  son  Jack,  his  onlies'  chile,  was  at 
school  some'r's  in  de  Norf,  whar  his  daddy 
come  f'um,  an'  he  stay  dar  twell  de  war  eend. 

'  You  see,  when  de  Yankee  army  come 
thu'  heah  de  old  man  claim  he  b'en  a  pusse- 
cuted  Newnyun  man,  an'  he  put  a  Newnyun 
flag  ober  his  house  an'  sabe  hit  an'  er  big  lot 
er  cotton.  W'en  de  boy  come  back  he  was 
grown,  an'  his  daddy  gib  him  er  plan'ashun 
an'  plenty  er  money,  an'  Jack  tu'ns  big  poli- 
tishuner  an'  got  to  be  cap'n  ob  a  nigger  mer- 
lisher  comp'ny,  an'  de  niggers  dey  call  him 
Cap'n  Jack. 

"  Befo'  he  gotter  mixin'  wid  de  scalawags 
an'  niggers  he  come  ober  here  an'  wanter 
mek  a  soshul  call  on  Miss  Lucy,  'ca'se  he 
b'en  to  de  neighborhood  school  wid  her  w'en 
dey  was  chilluns;  but  no,  sah,  no  oberseer's 
son  fer  her,  ef  he  got  a  bar'l  er  money;  so 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN     147 

she  treat  him  so  col'  he  ain't  come  no  mo'. 
Den  he  'cide  he  go  ter  see  Miss  Jean  an'  try 
ter  cut  er  shine  erlong  er  her,  but  she  soon  let 
him  know  he  barkin'  up  de  wrong  tree. 

"  He  ain't  nebber  been  b'long  in  her  class, 
ob  co'se,  but  'ca'se  dey  b'en  schoolmates  she 
treat  him  perlite;  an'  he  see  she  be  po'  'count 
er  de  wah,  an'  he  talk  'bout  bein'  rich,  an'  he 
up  an'  axes  her  ter  mah'y  him.  Den  he  heerd 
f  um  her.  She  come  right  ober  here,  an'  I 
was  in  de  settin'-room  making  a  fiah,  an'  I 
heerd  her  tell  Miss  Lucy  'bout  it,  an'  seed 
her  show  Miss  Lucy  how  she  done  when  he  ax 
her.  She  got  up  an'  tek  hoi'  ob  one  side  her 
skirt  'twix'  her  thum'  an'  fus'  finger,  an'  pull 
it  'way  roun'  lak  she  tryin'  ter  miss  sumpin'  an' 
den  she  bow  an'  say,  '  Mr.  Harper,  I'm  not 
for  sale.  De  daughter  ob  er  Als'on  nebber 
will  marry  er  oberseer's  son.'  You  orter  see 
her  toss  dat  purty  haid  er  hern  twell  de  black 
curls  hang  down  mos'  to  her  shoul'ers,  an' 
she  curl  her  purty  red  lips  an'  lif  her  thur- 
rerbred  nost'ils  in  de  a'r,  an'  sweep  outen  de 
room,  showin'  Miss  Ma'y  how  she  lef  Jack 
Harper — an'  den  she  bus'  out  cryin'. 

"  'Cord'm'  ter  Miss  Jean,  dat  man  got  sho' 
mad.  He  all  de  time  strut  an'  swagger  an' 
w'ar  westcuts  wid  big  stripes  on  'em,  an'  Mar- 
ster  say  he  was  a  '  swashbuckler  ' — w'utebber 
dat  is;  an'  I  know  he  didn't  no  mo'  b'long  in 
de  same  class  wid  Marster  an'  Cap'n  Als'on 
dan  er  plow-mule  b'long  in  de  same  class  er- 


i48    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

long  er  Marster's  saddle-hoss.  Jack  Harper 
sayed  he  gwine  mek  her  an'  her  'ristercrat 
daddy  sorry  when  she  heah  f'um  him  ergin. 
She  so  sweet  an'  kin',  she  don'  wanter  bring 
on  no  'sturbance,  so  she  ain't  tell  her  daddy 
'bout  how  dat  feller  talk  to  her,  'ca'se  she 
know  ef  she  do,  Jack  Harper  gwine  ter  see 
trubbel. 

"  I  tell  you,  boss,  dese  quality  gent'men 
down  in  de  Souf  is  de  bes'  men  in  de  worl', 
but  de  man  dat  is  dis'especkful  to  a  lady  er 
'suits  her,  gwine  ter  heah  f'um  'em  sho'  ez 
you  bo'n. 

"  I  'spec'  Marster  done  tol'  you  mos'  er 
w'ut  happen,  but  mebbe  he  ain't  tell  you  w'ut 
he  say  w'en  Miss  Ma'y  tol'  him  'bout  de 
slan'ers  ob  Jack  Harper.  Marster  riz  an' 
stretch  hisself  twell  he  look  lak  he  'bout  eight 
foot  high,  an'  spite  er  his  bein'  er  big  'Pisker- 
pul  member  an'  er  Chrischun,  he  lak  ter  for- 
got, 'ca'se  w'ut  he  say  shock  Miss  Ma'y  pow- 
'ful.  Den  Marster,  who  think  she  de  queen 
er  de  yearth,  bow  ter  her  an'  say,  '  I  beg  par- 
don, my  dear;  I  spoke  too  quick  an'  too 
rough;  please  'scuse  me.'  De  king  couldn't 
er  b'en  no  perliter  ner  graceful-lak. 

"  W'en  Cap'n  Als'on  riz  an'  staggered  ter 
de  fireplace,  as  I  sho'  Marster  done  tol'  you, 
I  swunk  back  an'  got  outen  dar.  'Fo'  Gawd, 
I  jes'  leabe  meet  er  g'os'  in  de  swamp  at  mid- 
dle de  night  ez  ter  see  sich  er  look  on  his  face 
ergin. 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENT'MAN     149 

"  Atter  while  I  sorter  crope  back,  an'  I 
heahed  de  Cap'n  say,  '  Jack  Harper  shan't 
live  till  de  sun  go  down.'  Den  I  say  ter 
mahse'f,  '  Good-by,  Jack  Harper;  you'se  er 
goner,  sho'  ez  de  sun  set  in  de  wes'." 

"  The  Colonel  told  me  all  that  he  said," 
interrupted  Mr.  Standwick,  "  and  what  Cap- 
tain Alston  said  up  to  the  time  the  Colonel 
left." 

"  Ve'y  well,  boss,  den  I'll  tell  yer  de  res'. 
Marster  went  back  home  ter  dinner,  an'  atter 
dinner  he  hab  me  drive  him  ter  town,  'ca'se 
he  'speck,  lak  I  did,  dat  Cap'n  Als'on  gwine 
dar,  an'  we  bofe  know  ef  he  do  dey  better 
look  out;  but  Marster  ain't  say  a  word  ter 
me  'bout  what  he  'speck,  ner  me  ter  him. 
When  we  got  ter  town,  Marster  went  over  ter 
de  bank  w'ut  mos'  b'long  ter  him,  an'  I  went 
on  up  town  whar  I  see  a  crowd  er  free  niggers 
scramblin'  an'  grabbin'  atter  sumpin'  on  de 
groun',  an'  hollerin'  an'  raisin'  er  pow'ful 
racket. 

"  You  see,  de  sucket  cote  was  in  town,  an' 
dar  was  a  big  crowd,  mos'ly  niggers;  fer  you 
know,  boss,  er  nigger  lub  ter  go  ter  cote  mos' 
same  ez  he  do  ter  er  fun'al.  De  jedge  was 
er  carpetbagger  an'  de  pussecutin'  'torney  der 
same,  an'  Jack  Harper  an'  a  big  lot  er  udder 
scalawags  an'  'Publicans  was  in  town.  Jack 
was  full  er  licker,  an'  was  flingin'  coppers  an' 
nickels  ter  de  niggers  roun'  him,  an'  dey  was 
scrappin'  ter  beat  de  ban*. 


150    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

"  To'  I  b'en  dar  long,  I  see  Cap'n  Als'on 
walk  slow  up  de  aige  er  de  crowd,  an'  jes  den 
a  big  nigger  say,  '  Cap'n  Jack,  t'ought  you 
was  gwine  ter  marry  dat  'ristercrat  darter  w'ut 
lib  yonder  by  de  Marshall  plan'ashun.' 

:'  Jack  Harper  'ply  back,  winkin'  his  eye 
an'  twissin'  his  haid,  '  Oh,  I  don'  marry  dat 
kin' ;  'tain't  no  use  ter  marry  her,  you  onner- 
stan'.' 

"  Den  Cap'n  Als'on  say,  '  You  niggers 
stan'  'side.'  De  niggers  b'en  so  busy  scrap- 
pin'  fer  coppers  an'  nickels  an'  drinkin'  licker 
dat  dey  ain't  notice  Cap'n  Als'on;  but  w'en  he 
speak  dey  got  outen  de  way,  an'  dat  quick. 

"  Den  de  Cap'n  say,  speakin'  slow  an' 
plain,  '  Jack  Harper,  you  slandered  my  daw- 
ter  to  her  grave,  an'  you  got  ter  answer  ter 
me.' 

"  I  t'ink  Harper  mus'  er  b'en  drunk,  fer 
sho'ly  he  wan'  big  'nuff  fool  ef  he  was  sober 
ter  tetch  his  pistil  w'en  er  Als'on  be  talkin' 
ter  him,  an'  dat's  what  he  done. 

"  Now,  onnerstan',  boss,"  and  Ned  leaned 
over  and  lowered  his  voice,  "  'twix'  you  an' 
me,  de  tetchin'  er  his  pistil  didn'  mek  de  mat- 
ter no  diff'unt  f'um  w'ut  it  would  er  b'en, 
'ca'se  Harper  done  b'en  'lected  ter  git  jus' 
w'ut  he  got.  He  done  bre'k  de  gent'man's 
law  in  dis  kentry,  an'  slan'er  er  lady,  an'  his 
time  done  come. 

"  Well,  ez  I  was  er  savin',  he  tetch  his 
pistil,  an'  dat  was  de  las'  er  him.  Bang, 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN     151 

bang,  bang!  Cap'n  Als'on's  pistil  went, 
quicker  'n  er  cat  could  wink  her  eye,  an' 
ebber'  bullet  hit  Jack  Harper  an'  ary  one  on 
'em  would  er  kilt  him.  He  dropped  double 
up  wid  his  pistil  in  his  han'  an'  dem  niggers 
scatter'  lak  pa'tridges." 

"  Stop,"  said  Mr.  Standwick,  speaking  ear- 
nestly and  excitedly.  "What  do  you  say? 
Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  Captain  Alston 
killed  the  man?  " 

"  Yes,  sirree;  dat's  w'ut  I  sayed;  fer  he  sho' 
did  kill  him  deader  'n  er  mack'rel." 

"You  do  not  mean  that  Captain  Alston, 
who  spent  the  night  with  me,  Colonel  Mar- 
shall's friend,  the  soft-spoken,  courteous  gen- 
tleman, whose  society  I  so  much  enjoyed?  " 

'  Yes,  sah,  I  means  dat  ve'y  man." 

"  Great  God,  Ned;  it's  horrible!  You  say 
Harper  was  rich ;  then  why  didn't  he  sue  him 
for  damages?  " 

"  Do  w'ut,  boss?  Please  'scuse  me,  sah, 
but  I  don'  onnerstan'  w'ut  you  say." 

"  I  said,  why  didn't  he  sue  Harper  for 
damages  ?  I  mean,  why  didn't  he  go  to  court 
and  get  a  judgment  and  make  Harper  pay 
damages;  and  if  he  did  not  pay,  levy  on  his 
plantation  and  sell  it  and  collect  the  money." 

"  W'ut  he  gwine  ter  do  wid  de  money  arter 
he  git  it?" 

"  Why,  take  it  to  pay  the  judgment  he  got 
for  damages." 

"  Does  you  mean,  boss,  dat  Cap'n  Als'on 


152    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

gwine  ter  tek  money  fer  ter  pay  him  fer  his 
dawter  bein'  slan'ered?" 

"  Yes,  that's  what  I  mean ;  there  are  many 
such  cases.  If  he  got  damages,  that  would 
prove  the  slander  and  the  innocence  of  his 
daughter." 

Ned  looked  hard  at  his  white  friend  and 
then  took  hold  of  his  own  chin  and  lower  lip 
with  his  left  hand,  with  his  elbow  resting 
against  his  side,  while  he  ran  the  fingers  of 
his  right  hand  gently  through  his  white  and 
kinky  locks,  and  as  he  held  his  head  far  to 
one  side  and  half  closed  his  left  eye,  in  a  tone 
of  soliloquy,  said, 

"  I  gwine  ter  go  back  ter  de  fus'  er  de  mat- 
ter an'  try  ter  figger  it  out.  Now,  le's  see.  A 
gent'man  got  a  purty  dawter  dat  he  lub  mo'n 
all  de  worl'.  A  low-down  white  man  w'ut's 
rich  come  er  co'tin'  ob  her  an'  ax  her  ter 
mah'y  him,  but  she  'fuse  him  sco'nful-lak, 
'ca'se  he  ain't  b'long  in  her  class.  Den  de 
white  man  slan'er  her  all  ober  de  kentry  an' 
p'isen  her  soul  twell  she  die;  den  er  gent'man 
ax  me  de  queschun,  '  Huccome  her  daddy  ain't 
sue  de  white  man  w'ut  slan'er  his  dawter,  an' 
mek  him  pay  money  fer  de  slan'er,  an'  let 
de  low-down  white  man  go  on  libbin'  ?  '  No, 
dat's  too  much  fer  me.  I  cain't  comprehen'  it 
'tall.  I  ain't  nebber  heerd  er  no  sich  case  in 
de  cote-house  in  dis  kentry." 

"  Such  things  must  happen  here  at  times, 
and  what  do  men  do  in  such  cases  ?  " 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN     153 

"  Dey  does  w'ut  Cap'n  Als'on  done ;  dey 
kill  de  man  w'ut  slan'er  er  lady." 

"  Is  that  the  law  of  this  State?  " 

"Well,  no,  sah;  I  don'  reckon  it's  'zactly 
de  law,  'ca'se  I  heerd  Marster  say  dat  it  ain't 
de  law  writ  in  de  law  book;  but  all  de  same 
hit's  de  law  w'ut  gent'mens  follers." 

"  Do  you  tell  me  that  Captain  Alston  didn't 
try  to  get  an  apology,  or  get  a  confession  and 
a  settlement  for  money  out  of  Harper  before 
he  shot  him?  " 

"  Dat's  jes'  w'ut  I  say,  boss.  No  man 
cain't  'polergize  fer  dat  kin'  er  devilment;  an' 
ef  Cap'n  Als'on  had  er  tuk  money  f'um  Jack 
Harper,  er  had  er  sued  him  ter  get  money, 
he  would  er  los'  stan'in'  'mong  de  peepul; 
Marster  wouldn't  er  spoke  ter  him.  I  tell 
you,  boss,  dese  folks  is  proud,  an'  dey  b'liebes 
lak  I  does  in  good  blood,  an'  de  onner  ob  er 
man's  fambly;  an'  ef  any  man  slan'er  dey 
wife  er  dawter  or  mistreat  or  'ceive  any  dey 
wimmin-folks,  dey  ain't  gwine  ter  no  cote- 
house  atter  money.  Dey  gwine  atter  blood, 
an'  dey  inginurly  gits  it;  an'  w'en  dey  gits  thu' 
dere  ain't  no  need  fer  a  doctor,  but  dey  needs 
a  curiner  ter  hoi'  de  inques'." 

;'  Well,  it's  fearful." 

"  Well,  boss,  it  all  'pens,  you  know.  It's 
'cordin'  ter  how  folks  is  fotch  up  an'  w'ut 
dey's  usen  to.  You  t'ink  dat  way,  but  ef  you 
libbed  heah,  you'd  tek  notice  dat  it's  mighty 
seldom  dat  er  man  lets  his  tongue  loose  'g'inst 


154    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

a  lady's  keracter,  an'  dat  ginurly  a  man  keeps 
often  his  neighbor's  home  diggin's. 

"  No,  sah,  boss,  quality-folks  lak  my  Mars- 
ter  an'  Cap'n  Als'on  nebber  hunts  no  money 
w'en  dey  onner  er  de  onner  er  dey  fambly  is 
tetch." 

"  I  must  say,  Ned,  that  Colonel  Marshall 
and  Captain  Alston  seem  to  be  two  as  fine 
men,  as  fine  gentlemen  as  I  have  ever  met." 

"  You'se  right  'bout  dat,  boss.  Dey  don't 
only  seem — dey  is.  Dar  ain't  no  finer  in  de 
worl'.  Dar  ain't  a  drop  er  scrub  blood  in 
dey  veins.  Dey's  thurrerbred  f'um  top  ter 
toe,  sho's  yer  bo'n." 

"  Well,  when  I  interrupted  you,  you  had 
just  said  that  Harper  fell  dead  and  the  ne- 
groes scattered.  What  happened  then?" 

"  W'en  Marster  heerd  de  shootin'  he  come 
right  ober  dar,  an'  he  went  right  up  ter  Cap'n 
Als'on  an'  put  his  arm  aroun'  him,  an'  de 
Cap'n  glance  down  at  Harper  lyin'  dar,  an' 
he  say,  '  Colonel,  my  darling  is  Venged,'  an' 
den  he  lay  his  haid  on  Marster's  shoul'er 
an'  cry  same  ez  er  baby;  an'  right  den  an'  dar 
Marster  tell  Cap'n  Als'on  he  will  'fen'  him 
in  de  cote." 

"  What,  do  you  mean  Colonel  Marshall  is 
a  lawyer?" 

"  Yes,  siree ;  de  bigges'  lawyer  dey  is.  Dar 
ain't  none  er  de  res'  er  de  lawyers  in  his  class 
'tall.  He  kin  beat  any  man  pleadin'  you  eber 
heerd  in  yer  life.  He  ain't  practise  no  law 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENTMAN     155 

in  er  long  time.  He  don't  hab  to.  He  quit 
'fo'  de  wah.  An'  sides  all  dat,  he  won't  prac- 
tise  'fo'  dese  carpetbag  an'  scalawag  jedges 
an'  nigger  juries  w'ut  cain't  read,  nuther 
write." 

"  I  see,  Ned,  you  talk  about  the  colored 
persons  like  I  have  often  heard  the  southern 
people  did;  but  of  course  you  know  as  a  fact 
that  you  never  saw  a  colored  man  on  the 
jury  who  could  not  read  or  write." 

"  Good  Gawd,  boss,  you  sho'  is  mistooken 
on  dat  p'int.  Why,  sah!  dar's  five  hunderd 
niggers  in  dis  county  w'ut's  b'en  on  de  jury 
dat  don't  know  *  b  '  f 'urn  *  bullfoot.'  Right 
yander  in  dat  cote-house  dar's  niggers  on  de 
jury  dat  wouldn't  know  er  vuddick  f'um  er 
mile-pos'.  I  heerd  Marster  say  lots  er  times 
dat  heap  er  dese  carpetbag  jedges  nebber  was 
lawyers  nowhar;  an'  it's  er  fack  dey  wan't. 

"  Boss,  ef  you  b'en  lib  heah  lak  we  is,  you'd 
er  seed  some  er  de  s'prisenes'  things  dat  ebber 
is  happen.  Lemme  tell  you  somepin'  dat  was 
sho'  funny,  an'  w'ut's  mo',  it's  de  truf.  De 
Yankees  bu'n  de  cote-house  endurin'  er  de 
wah,  an'  dey  was  er  hol'in'  cote  in  er  ole  stoah 
an'  had  er  ole  war'house  fer  er  jury-room. 
Well,  one  day,  all  twelbe  er  de  jury  was  nig- 
gers an'  nary  one  couldn't  read  er  write.  De 
carpetbag  jedge  say,  '  Gent'men,  go  out  an' 
fin'  yo'  vuddick,'  an'  de  twelbe  niggers 
march  out  wid  de  nigger  sheriff,  w'ich  was 
struttin'  lak  a  bahn-yard  bantam.  'Twuz 


156    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

pow'ful  hot,  an'  dem  niggers  was  gone  'bout 
er  hour,  an'  w'en  dey  git  back  dey  was  sweat- 
in'  lak  a  plow-hoss,  an'  puffin'  an'  pantin'  lak 
lizzuds  an'  dey  han's  was  dirty  an'  dey  clo'es 
full  er  dus',  an'  de  jedge  say,  '  Gent'men,  is 
you  foun'  er  vuddick?  '  Den  one  nigger  say, 
'  No,  sah,  Mr.  Jedge,  we  ain't  fin'  no  vuddick 
'tall.  I  doan'  b'liebe  dar's  any  vuddick  in  dat 
house.  We  done  s'arch  ebber'whar.  We  tuk  up 
de  flo'  an'  look  on  de  plates  an'  de  sills  an'  de 
j'ists,  an'  didn'  fin'  nary  sign  er  a  vuddick.' 
Den  ebber'body  in  de  cote-house  buss'  out 
laffin'." 

"  Now,  Ned,  such  a  tale  is  hard  to  believe, 
but  your  Master  vouches  for  your  truthful- 
ness." 

"  Oh,  it's  er  sollum  fack.  I  was  dar  w'en 
de  twelbe  niggers  march  in ;  an'  ebb'ry  one  un 
'em  orter  b'en  in  de  cotton  patch  dat  minnit. 
Dat  was  a  purty  come-off,  er  lot  er  co'n-fiel' 
niggers  w'ut  couldn'  tell  by  er  mile-pos'  how 
fer  'twas  ter  town,  settin'  on  er  jury.  But  I 
am  done  got  offen  de  track  erg'in. 

"  Ez  I  was  gwine  on  ter  say,  Cap'n  Als'on 
say  he  much  erbleeged  ter  Marster  fer  his  of- 
fer ter  'fen'  him;  an'  jes'  'bout  dat  time  de 
nigger  shur'ff  he  come  runnin'  down  dar  ter 
urres'  de  man  w'ut  done  de  shootin'.  You 
see,  w'en  Jack  Harper  b'en  shot,  some  nigger 
run  up  to  de  cote-house  an'  holler  dat  some- 
body done  kilt  Cap'n  Jack,  an'  he  bein'  a 
'Publican,  de  jedge  holler  out,  *  Mr.  Shur'ff, 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN     157 

go  down  an'  urres'  de  man  w'ut  kill  Cap'n 
Harper.' 

"  De  man  w'ut  tol'  de  jedge  dunno  who 
'twas  done  de  shootin',  so  de  nigger  shur'ff 
come  er  runnin',  an'  jes'  'fo'  he  got  dar  he 
holler,  '  Whar  dat  white  man  w'ut  done  dat 
shootin'?  You  jes'  watch  me  urres'  him.' 
Now,  dat  nigger  shur'ff  b'long  ter  Cap'n  Al- 
s'on  'fo'  de  wah,  but  he  lit  out  soon  ez  de 
Yankee  ahmy  come  erlong,  an'  de  scalerwags 
an'  carpetbaggers  had  him  'pinted  shur'ff. 

"  He  ain't  had  no  idee  dat  de  jedge  sont 
him  to  urres'  his  oP  Marster,  so  w'en  he  turn 
de  cornder  an'  see  Cap'n  Als'on  leanin'  kinder 
keerless  an'  graceful-lak  erg' in'  a  tree  wid  a 
pistil  in  his  han',  dat  was  de  s'prizedest  an' 
skeerdest  nigger  ebber  I  see  since  I  was  bo'n. 
Soon's  he  see  Cap'n  Als'on  he  tuk  off  his  hat 
an'  bow  an'  say,  '  Good  evenin',  Cap'n  Als — 
er — er — Marse  Angus.'  He  'member  his 
manners  an'  say  '  Marse  Angus,'  when  he 
'ten'  ter  say  *  Cap'n  Als'on.'  Den  he  say, 
*  Kin  you  tell  me,  Cap'n — er — Cap'n — er — 
Marse  Angus,  who  'twas  shoot  dat  man  w'ut 
was  kilt?  '  De  Cap'n  look  at  him  right  hard 
an'  den  he  say,  '  Yes,  I  did.  Did  you  come 
to  urres'  me?'  'Yes,  sah;  de  jedge  sont  me 
to  urres'  de  man  w'ut  done  de  shootin' ;  but  I 
didn'  had  no  idee  'twas  you,  an'  I  ain't  gwine 
ter  try  ter  urres'  you,  'ca'se  I  know  you  ain't 
go  let  no  nigger  do  dat.'  Den  de  Cap'n  say, 
1  Now,  you  go  back  an'  tell  dat  jedge  dat  a 


158    NED:   NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

gen'man  don't  let  a  nigger  shur'ff  ner  er  car- 
petbag jedge  urres'  him,  an'  dat  nigger  lef  in 
er  trot 

"  Now,  dat  shur'ff  had  a  depperty,  a  black 
nigger,  w'ut  was  in  de  Yankee  ahmy,  an'  he 
c'd  sorter  read  an'  write,  an'  w'en  he  heerd 
Cap'n  Als'on  done  de  shootin'  dat  nigger  'gin 
ter  swell  roun'  pow'ful.  He  say  one  er  dem 
'ristercrats  done  de  shootin'  an'  he  gwine 
down  dar  an'  show  him  how  er  'Publican  cul- 
lud  ossifer  kin  'scort  er  'ristercrat  ter  jail. 
He  walk  up  tolurbel  close  ter  Marster  an'  de 
Cap'n  an'  say,  '  Is  yo'  name  Als'on  ?  '  Atter 
er  while  Cap'n  Als'on  say  slow  an'  cool,  '  Yes, 
dat's  my  name.  Is  you  goin'  ter  urres'  me? 
Is  you  got  er  wahunt?  '  De  depperty  say, 
'  No,  but  I'm  de  depperty  high  shur'ff.'  Den 
de  Cap'n  kinder  squinch  his  eyes  up  close  ter- 
gedder  an'  sorter  bite  his  un'er  lip,  an'  dat 
nigger  'gin  ter  turn  ashy.  I  tuk  a  kinder 
glancin'  look  at  de  Cap'n  an'  den  I  say,  '  Nig- 
ger, does  you  wanter  eat  yer  supper  in  hell? 
Ef  you  don'  you  better  lef  dis  place  quick.' 

"  Dat  nigger  'gin  ter  trimble,  an'  den  de 
Cap'n  speak  erg'in,  an'  ev'y  wu'd  come  out 
lak  er  bullet  outen  er  gun.  '  You  damned, 
imperdent  black  scoundrel,  ef  you  don'  move 
in  er  seccun'  I'll  teach  you  some  sense  an' 
some  manners !  '  an'  he  kinder  'gin  ter  finger 
wid  de  trigger  er  his  pistil,  an'  sho'  as  yo 
bo'n  dat  nigger  bu'n  de  win'  gittin'  erway 
f'um  dar. 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN     159 

"  Now,  Cap'n  Als'on  didn'  'ten'  ter  shoot 
dat  nigger  sho'  'nuff.  He  knowed  de  nigger 
gwine  ter  le'be.  Cap'n  Als'on  nebber  did 
shoot  er  man,  'cept  Jack  Harper.  Dat  nig- 
ger come  f'um  de  Norf  an'  he  was  sho'  de 
boss  fool  ef  he  t'ink  a  quality  white  man  lak 
Cap'n  Als'on  gwine  let  any  nigger  shur'ff 
urres'  him. 

"  Atter  de  depperty  gone,  Marster  an' 
Cap'n  Als'on  went  down  ter  whar  er  conster- 
bul,  er  white  man,  was  stan'in',  an'  Marster 
say,  '  Consterbul,  Cap'n  Als'on  s'renders  ter 
you,  an'  you  tek  him  right  ter  de  jestis  ob  de 
peace.'  An'  dey  all  walk  down  to  de  jes- 
tis' office. 

"  De  jestis  riz  an'  bow  w'en  Marster  come 
in,  an'  de  consterbul  make  some  kind  er  'plaint 
'g'inst  Cap'n  Als'on  an'  swored  ter  it,  an'  de 
jestis  writ  somepin'  in  his  book;  den  Marster 
ask  whar  was  de  county  pussecutin'  'torney, 
'ca'se  he  knowed  de  deestnck  pussecutin'  'tor- 
ney was  at  de  big  cote-house.  De  little  pusse- 
cutin' 'torney  come  in  an'  Marster  say,  '  Dis 
'fendant  is  ready  ter  give  bond.'  Den  de  'tor- 
ney say,  '  I  don'  know  ez  dat  he  is  'title'  ter 
bon's.'  But  Marster  ain't  pay  no  'tenshun 
ter  him;  but  he  tu'n  to  de  jestis  an'  sayed, 
'  Under  de  law  when  er  man  don't  ax  fer 
'zaminin'  trial,  an'  dar  ain't  no  proof  'gin' 
him  'cept  dat  he  kilt  er  ahmed  man,  he  'title' 
ter  bon'.' 

"  De  jestis,  who  was  proud  ter  have  Mars- 


i6o    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

ter  practise  in  his  little  cote,  bowed  an'  sayed, 
4  Dat's  de  law,  Gunnel  Marshall.'  Dat  jes- 
tis  lib  in  one  er  Marster's  houses,  an'  owed 
him  right  den  'bout  six  mont's  rent.  Den  de 
jestis  say,  '  How  much  bon'  kin  de  'fendant 
make?'  Marster  say  it  didn't  mek  no  dif- 
f'unce,  mek  it  ten  thousan';  an'  de  jestis  say 
all  right,  an'  Marster  sign  it  ez  s'curity,  an' 
er  whole  lot  er  quality-gen'man's  say  dey 
wan'  put  dar  names  on  it,  an'  de  jestis  say 
all  right,  an'  den  he  proob  ob  de  bon',  an' 
dey  turn  Cap'n  Als'on  loose. 

"  Den  de  sucket  jedge  ax  Marster  ef  he 
was  de  man  w'ut  went  'fo'  de  jestis  an'  mek 
him  let  de  mudderer  loose  on  bon'.  Marster 
say  he  was  de  'torney  w'ut  toF  de  jestis  w'ut 
de  law  was,  an'  he  'beyed  it,  an'  let  er  gen'- 
man  loose  on  bon,'  and  dat  it  was  a  lawful 
purceedin'. 

"  Den  dat  carpetbag  jedge  say  sorter  sco'n- 
ful  an'  s'kastic-lak,  '  I  let  you  know  dar's  er- 
nuther  lawful  purceedin'.  I  will  mek  de 

fran'  jury  'dite  de  ristercrat  mudderer  an' 
'11  try  him  nex'  day.' 

"  Marster  look  at  him  hard  fer  a  minnit, 
an'  den  he  say,  '  You  as  de  jedge  got  no  right 
ter  speak  ob  er  'fendant  dat  way,  an'  it  mout 
be  well  dat  you  'member  dat.  You  ain't  in 
de  cote-house  settin'  as  jedge  all  de  time,  w'en 
you  talk  about  er  gen'man.' 

"  Dat  carpetbag  sucket  jedge  sho'  was 
mad,  an'  he  say  he  gwine  mek  de  gran'  jury 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENTMAN     161 

Mite  Cap'n  Als'on  right  erway,  an'  try  him 
nex'  day  fer  muddah.  Den  w'en  Marster 
was  'dressin'  de  jedge  'bout  de  case,  de  jedge 
ax  Marster  ef  he  be'n  a  lawyer.  Marster 
stretch  erbout  a  foot  an'  say,  '  £)e  records  ob 
dis  cote  show  dat  I  was  a  prac'sin'  law  'fo' 
you  was  bo'n.' 

"  Den  dat  jedge  swell  up  lak  a  frog  an' 
say,  '  Be  keerful,  sah,  er  I'll  fine  you  hund'ed 
dollars  an'  sen'  you  ter  jail  fer  contempt  ob 
cote.' 

"  Marster  say,  '  Ugh !  Ef  you  fine  me  in 
p'ortion  ter  de  contemp'  I  got  fer  you,  you 
better  mek  it  er  millyun.'  An'  den  Marster 
say  he  wanter  ast  who  gwine  ter  colleck  de 
fine  an'  tek  him  ter  jail,  an'  de  jedge  say,  '  De 
shur'ff  ob  dis  cote,  ob  co'se !  '  Den  ev'ybody 
in  de  cote-house  mos'  die  laffin',  an'  de  jedge 
got  so  mad  he  kin  skasely  see,  an'  he  beat  on 
de  table  wid  er  mallet,  an'  holler,  '  Order  in 
cote !  '  But  de  folks  cain't  stop  laffin',  'ca'se 
de  idee  ob  er  nigger  shur'ff  er  puttin'  his  han' 
on  Gunnel  Hamilton  Marshall,  my  Marster, 
wuz  so  'dickerlus.  Dat  shur'ff  ain'  no  mo' 
gwine  ter  urres'  Marster  dan  he  gwine  try 
ter  pick  de  teef  ob  er  rattlesnake  wid  er  pine 
straw. 

"  Jes'  den  de  gran'  jury  come  er  marchin' 
in  an'  han'  de  jedge  er  paper,  an'  he  han'  it 
ter  de  clu'k  er  de  cote,  an'  say,  '  De  'ditement 
ob  your  ristercrat  fr'en'  is  done  file',  an'  he 
be  tried  in  de  morninV  Den  Marster  say, 


1 62    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

'  De  law  gib  us  two  whole  days,  but  we  wabe 
our  rights  an'  we  be  ready  w'en  you  say  de 
wu'd.' 

"  Den  de  jedge  say  dar  won'  be  no  con- 
tin'ence  ner  puttin'  off,  an'  Marster  say,  4  We 
doan'  ax  none.'  Den  de  jedge  say,  '  De  'fen- 
dant  b'en  'dited  an'  dat  bon'  ain't  good  no 
mo,'  an'  he  tol'  de  shur'ff  ter  put  Cap'n  Al- 
s'on  in  de  jail. 

"  Dat  nigger  shur'ff  walk  up  bowin'  an' 
scrapin'  an'  er  trimblin',  an'  Marster  heerd 
w'ut  de  jedge  say,  an'  he  an'  Cap'n  Als'on 
sorter  smiled,  an'  dey  walk  down  ter  de  jail 
an'  in  one  doah  an'  out  t'udder,  an'  den  go  on 
out  ter  Marster's  house.  Den  de  shur'ff  go 
back  an'  tell  de  jedge  he  put  him  in  jail,  an' 
de  jedge  ain't  know  no  bettah. 

"  De  nex'  day,  sho'  'nuff,  de  trial  bergin. 
It  look  lak  mos'  ev'y  man  in  de  worl'  was 
dar.  Jack  Harper's  daddy  done  'ploy  er  big 
'torney  w'ut  was  a  'Publican  an'  er  scalerwag 
an'  lib  in  ernudder  county,  ter  help  de  State's 
'torney  pussecute  de  case.  Eb'y  'torney  in 
de  county  want  ter  help  Marster  'fen',  an'  he 
perlite  an'  say  ve'y  well,  but  he  was  de  boss 
lawyer,  an'  do  de  big  pleadin'. 

"  Atter  er  while  dey  'mence  ter  call  fer 
jurymens,  an'  you  nebber  seed  sich  a  lot  er 
niggers  in  all  yer  life — 'nirymens,  I  b'liebe 
dey  call  'em.  Is  dat  right,  boss?  " 

'  Yes,   veniremen ;   that's   what  they   call 
men  summoned  for  jury  service." 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN     163 

"  Well,  sah,  hope  er  may  die,  ef  dar  was 
ary  quality  white  man  in  dat  bunch;  but  dar 
was  'nuff  niggers  ter  pick  twenty  bale  er  cot- 
ton dat  day,  an'  dat's  w'ut  dey  orter  b'en  er 
doin'.  Dar  was  a  few  scalerwag  white  men 
w'ut  Marster  wouldn'  let  sleep  in  his  buggy- 
house,  an'  dat  was  de  kin'  er  crowd  dey  gwine 
ter  pick  er  jury  f'um  ter  try  a  quality-gen'- 
man  fer  shootin'  er  mizzurbul  scalerwag  'bout 
slan'er'n'  er  lady.  Now,  is  yer  ebber  heerd 
de  beat  er  dat? 

"  Onnerstan',  boss,  I  ain't  'busin'  er  blam- 
in'  de  niggers.  Dey  don'  know  nuttin'.  Dey 
ign'unt,  an'  dey  want  de  money  w'ut  de  jury- 
mens  gits;  but  it  sho'  was  onjes'  ter  dem  ter 
put  'em  whar  dey  ain't  fittin'  ter  be.  Dey 
ain't  had  no  1'arnin'  fer  dat  kin'  er  bus'ness. 

"  Dey  'gun  ter  s'leck  jurymens,  an'  dat 
State's  'torney  ain't  know  much  'bout  de  nig- 
gers er  de  white  men,  an'  dat  lawyer  w'ut 
ole  man  Harper  'ploy  ter  h'ep  pussecute  ain't 
lib  in  dis  county  an'  didn't  know  nuttin' — 
but  you  bet  Marster  knowed  ev'y  nigger  in 
de  county. 

"  De  las'  jurymans  de  clu'k  call  was  name' 
Simon,  a  liT  twis'-leg  nigger  black  as  cha'- 
coal.  De  State's  'torney  say,  *  W'ut  your 
name?  '  He  say,  '  Simon.'  '  Simon  what?  '  de 
'torney  say.  '  No,  sah,'  de  nigger  say,  '  Simon 
Als'on.'  De  'torney  say,  '  None  er  yer  smart- 
ness. Did  you  'long  ter  de  'fen'ant  'fo'  de 
wah?'  'I  dunno  no  'fen'ant.  Who  he?' 


1 64    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

'I  mean  Cap'n  Als'on.'  'No,  sah;  never  is 
b'long  ter  him.'  '  Kin  you  try  dis  case  fa'r 
an'  hones'  an'  right?  '  '  Yes,  sah;  dat  I  kin.' 
Now,  de  'torney  ain't  wan'  ter  tek  dat  nigger, 
but  he  done  'jeck  ter  all  de  jurymens  de  law 
'low,  so  he  cain't  he'p  hisse'f,  but  had  ter  tek 
him,  an'  Marster  tuk  de  nigger  fer  er  jury- 
man. 

"  I  was  leanin'  on  de  railin'  close  ter  de  een' 
er  de  las'  row  er  jurymens,  an'  dat  liT  black 
nigger  come  roun'  mum'lin',  talkin'  ter  his- 
se'f an'  kinder  growlin',  an'  say,  '  Co'se  I 
gwine  try  him  fa'r  an'  nones'.  I  gwine  do 
'zactly  w'ut  Marster  say,  an'  he  gwine  say  de 
hones'  thing.  Dat  liT  'torney  was'in'  his  time 
talkin'  ter  me.'  An'  he  sho'  was,  'ca'se  dat 
nigger  b'en  b'long  ter  Marster  an'  was  bo'n 
on  dis  plan'ashun. 

"  At  las'  dey  got  'leben  niggers  an'  er  white 
man  fer  jurymens,  an'  dey  call  erbout  er  hun- 
'erd  witness',  de  mos'  ob  em  niggers ;  but  dey 
couldn't  get  a  nigger  ter  sw'ar  he  see  Cap'n 
Als'on  had  er  pistil  er  shoot  na'y  time.  Dey 
mem'ry  done  fail  'em  'tirely,  an'  de  jedge 
was  sho'  mad. 

"  Atter  er  while  de  State's  'torney  call 
Chloe  Marshall,  an'  'way  back  in  de  cote- 
house  Chloe  holler,  '  Heah  I  is,  w'ut  you 
wan'  long  er  me?'  Boss,  does  you  know 
Chloe?  Aun'  Chloe,  ev'ybody  call  her?" 

"  No,"  said  Mr.  Standwick,  smiling.  "  I 
have  not  that  pleasure." 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN     165 

"  'Scuse  me,  boss,  I  done  fergit  you  ain't 
lib  heah.  Ef  you  did  you  sho'  would  er 
knowed  Chloe,  fer  she's  er  case  an'  er  caw- 
shun.  She  black  ez  er  pot,  an'  mos'  ez  big 
ez  er  hogs'ed,  an'  ain'  erfeered  er  nobody;  but 
she's  good-natured  an'  ev'ybody  laks  her,  an' 
she's  de  outlaffinest  nigger  tubbesho',  an'  de 
funnies'  nigger  ebber  yer  seed. 

"  De  State's  'torney  say,  '  Tek  de  witness 
stan','  an'  w'en  Aun'  Chloe  step  'roun',  he  say, 
'  Have  er  seat  in  dat  cheer.'  Den  dem  two 
had  er  time  fer  sho'. 

"  She  say,  '  How  dat?  How  kin  I  tek  de 
stan'  an'  set  in  de  cheer  at  de  same  time? ' 

"  Den  de  jedge  say — he  was  er  carpetbag 
jedge — sharp-lak,  '  Set  down,  maddum.'  Den 
she  sot  down,  an'  tek  off  her  sun-bonnet,  mos' 
ez  big  ez  er  waggin-kiver,  an'  'mence  ter  laff, 
an'  she  laff  twell  she  shuk  lak  a  tub  er  hog- 
foot  jelly. 

"  Den  de  jedge  say,  '  Come  ter  ordah ! 
W'ut  you  laffin'  'bout? '  but  she  kep'  on  laf- 
fin'  an'  er  sayin',  '  Maddum,  maddum — w'en 
I  got  ter  be  maddum?'  an'  she  sayed  de  dum 
part  de  hardes'  an'  de  longes'. 

"  De  jedge  say,  *  Ain't  you  a  mar'd 
'oman?  ' 

"  '  No,'  she  say,  '  I'se  er  nigger  'oman  an' 
er  widder  'oman.  Dar's  mah  Marster  right 
dar,  Cunnel  Ham'ton  Marshall,  an'  he  ain't 
nebber  call  me  no  maddum  f 

"  Den  de  jedge  say  snappish  ez  yer  please, 


166    NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN 

1 1  wan'  you  to  onnerstan'  dar  ain't  no  mo' 
marsters  in  dis  kentry;  ev'ybody's  free.' 

"  *  Huccome  I  ain't  got  no  marster? ' 
Chloe  say.  '  I  lak  ter  know  w'en  I  los'  him. 
I  thank  Gawd  I'se  got  him.  Ef  I  ain't  had 
him  I  done  starbe  ter  def  er  die  wid  de  ru- 
mertiz.' 

44  Den  de  jedge  say,  mad  ez  er  hornit, 
4  Gawn  wid  de  'zammernashun.'  Den  de 
carpetbag  State's  'torney  r'ar  back  an'  say  sor- 
ter slow-lak,  4  W'ut  is  yo'  name?  ' 

44  Aim'  Chloe  stre'ten  up  an'  de  cheer 
screech,  an'  she  say,  4  W'ut  fer  you  ax  me  dat 
fool  queschin?  Yer  knows  mah  name  good 
ez  I  know  yourn.  Ain'  I  b'en  sellin'  yer  ap- 
puls  an'  aigs  an'  all  sich  ebber  since  yer  b'en 
comin'  heah  ?  ' 

44  4  Yes,'  he  say,  4I  know  yo'  name; 
but ' 

44  4  But,  nuthin','  she  say,  4  ef  ye  know  it, 
w'ut  fer  you  ax  me  w'ut  my  name  is?  ' 

44  Den  de  'torney  say,  4  Well,  how  oP  is 
you? ' 

44  4  Dat  ain'  none  er  yo'  bus'ness  fer  ez  I 
kin  see,  but  I  jes'  'bout  ol'  lak  Marster.' 

44  4 1  doan'  know  yer  marster  ner  no  udder 
marster,  an'  de  jedge  tol'  yer  dar  ain'  no 
marsters  no  mo',  ol'  lady,'  de  'torney  say, 
sco'nful-lak. 

44  Den  de  ol'  lady  'gin  ter  git  hot  fer  true. 

44  4  Dat's  er  fac'.  You  don'  know  my  Mars- 
ter, 'ca'se  he  don'  mix  'long  er  yo'  kin'.  He's 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN     167 

quality-folks  fum  erway  back,  an'  dc  likes 
er  you  a  in'  never  gwine  ter  git  inside  er  his 
house.  He  kin  tell  yer,  dough,  how  ol'  I  is 
ef  yer  so  bad  off  ter  fin'  out.' 

"  Den  de  jedge  put  in,  an'  say,  c  You  tell 
yer  name  so  de  gen'mans  in  de  jury-box  '11 
know.' 

"  '  But  whar  is  a'y  box,  an'  whar  is  a'y 
gen'man,  I  lak  ter  know?  '  Chloe  say. 

"  De  jedge  say,  stiff  an'  dignerfy-lak, 
'  Dose  twelve  gen'mans  ober  dar  is  jurymans 
in  de  jury-box.' 

"  *  Dar  ain'  no  box  dar  'tall  an'  dar  ain'  no 
gen'mans  dar,  nuther.  Dar's  some  ol'  cheers 
an'  benches,  an  'leben  niggers  an'  er  san'il! 
po'-tack.  Ef  you  calls  de  lak  er  dem  gen'- 
mans, I  hope  yer  won'  never  pick  no  gen'mans 
fer  me.  Ef  yer  wan'  ter  see  white  gen'mans 
sho'  'nuff,  look  at  Marster  an'  Cap'n  Als'on — 
dey's  quality  gen'mans  fer  true.' 

"  '  Stop! '  de  jedge  say;  *  I  won'  hab  any 
mo'  er  dat.  Dose  jurymens  is  cullud  gen'- 
mens,  not  niggers — cullud  gen'mens,  I  say.' 

"  I  don'  see  but  one  nigger  gen'man  in 
dis  cote-house,  an'  dat's  Ned,  Marster's  ker- 
ridge-driver,  leanin'  dar  'g'inst  de  railin'.  He 
been  wid  quality-folks  so  much  an'  wait  in 
der  big-house  so  long  dat  he's  er  gen'man. 
I  see  Brudder  Parker,  too.  He's  de  pastur 
er  mah  chu'ch,  an'  de  out-prayin'is'  an'  out- 
preachin'es'  nigger  preacher  you  ebber  heerd. 

"  *  Stop ! '  de  jedge  say,  gettin'  madder  an' 


1 68    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

madder.  '  Nobody  wan's  to  heah  nuthin'  'bout 
yo'  pastur  an'  his  prayin',  nur  anythin'  'bout 
yo'  marster.  Yer  ain't  got  no  marster  no 
mo.' 

"  '  I  tell  yer,  ef  I  ain't  had  er  Marster 
an'  er  Miss  Ma'y  I  done  starbe  sho',  er  died 
wid  de  rumertiz.  Say,  Mr.  Jedge,  is  yer 
ebber  had  de  rumertiz  ? '  an'  ev'ybody  bus' 
out  laffin'. 

"  Den  de  jedge  beat  on  de  table  wid  his 
mallet  an'  fa'rly  holler,  '  Stop,  stop !  Rumer- 
tizum  got  nuthin'  ter  do  wid  me  er  you  er  dis 
case.' 

"  *  It  done  had  heap  ter  do  wid  me'  sho's 
you  bo'n,  an'  ef  it  git  hoi'  er  you,  you  gwine 
t'ink  it  got  somepin'  ter  do  wid  you  too.  Ef 
it  do  git  hoi'  er  you,  you  jes'  git  some  yearth 
wu'ms — fish  baits,  you  know — an'  mix  er  li'l' 
tuppentine  an'  sweet  ile  wid  'em,  'an'  rub  yo' 
j'ints,  an' ' 

"  But  de  jedge  kep'  beatin'  an'  er  holl'in', 
'  Stop,  stop !  I'll  fine  you  an'  sen'  you  ter 
jail.' 

"  l  How  kin  yer  fin'  me  w'en  I  ain'  los'  ? 
I'm  right  heah,  bless  yer  soul,  Mr.  Jedge, 
whar  dat  nigger  shur'ff  tol'  me  ter  come.  I 
am  heah  ter  tell  de  truf  an'  yer  swored  me  ter 
tell  it,  an'  de  fus'  thing  I  heerd  atter  I  got 
heah  was  a  fool  queschin  an'  er  lie.  Dat  li'l' 
State's  'torney  ax  me  w'ut's  mah  name,  an* 
he  know  mah  name  good  ez  he  do  his'n;  an' 
den  yer  tol'  me  I  mus'  tell  it  ter  de  gen'mans 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN     169 

in  de  jury-box,  w'en  dar  ain'  no  gen'mans 
ner  no  jury-box  nuther.     Now  you  got  it.' 

"  Den  de  jedge  say,  '  Ef  yer  don'  answer 
de  queschins  I'll  sen'  you  ter  jail.' 

"  '  Ain'  nobody  ax  no  queschin  'cept  w'ut's 
mah  name,  an'  de  man  w'ut  ax  dat  know  mah 
name  an'  dem  nigger  jurymens  knows  it.  Den 
w'ut  de  use  er  mah  tellin'  er  dem  w'ut  dey 
know  'fo'  dey  ax  me?' 

'  I  tell  you  I'll  send  you  to  jail.' 

"  '  I  lak  ter  ax  yer,  Mr.  Jedge,  who  gwine 
tek  me  ter  jail?  ' 

"  Den  de  jedge  look  down  at  de  ol'  nig- 
ger an'  squinch  his  eyes  an'  grit  his  teef  an' 
say,  '  De  shur'ff  er  dis  cote  '11  tek  you.'  An' 
dat  jedge  sho'  was  hot  in  de  collar. 

"  Den  Aun'  Chloe  fa'rly  double  up  an'  hol- 
ler, an'  grab  up  her  sun-bunnit  an'  beat  it  on 
de  flo'  an'  on  her  lap,  an  '  rock  backurds  an' 
foruds,  an'  laff  twell  she  cry,  an'  say,  '  Der 
shur'ff  er  dis  cote!  Lorsy  mussey,  Mister 
Jedge,  dat  li'l'  yaller  nigger  cain't  tuk  me 
now'eres  'tall.  I'll  jes'  set  down  on  him  an' 
sqush  de  life  outen  him;  den  yer  won't  hab 
no  shur'ff  'tall.' 

"  By  dis  time  de  jedge  fin'  out  gittin'  mad 
ain't  do  no  good,  so  he  say,  c  Let  her  tell  it 
her  own  way.' 

"  Den  Aun'  Chloe  say,  '  Now  yer  talkinY 
an'  de  jedge  laff  twell  he  shuk. 

"  Den  de  State's  'torney  say,  '  Now,  Aun' 
Chloe •' 


170    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

"  '  Eh,  eh,  eh,  eh !  '  she  bre'k  in.  '  I  tol' 
yer  dat  yer  know  mah  name,  an'  sho'  'nuff 
yer  does.' 

"  Den  de  'torney  say,  '  Gawn  an'  talk  ter 
de  gen'mans  ob  de  jury.' 

'  Ain'  I  tell  yer  dar  ain'  no  gen'mans  on 
de  jury?  All  un  'em  'ceptin'  Brudder  Parker 
is  co'n-fiel'  niggers.  But  I  gwine  talk  ter  'em 
f 'um  der  shoul'er.  Dar's  Tom  Annerson ;  he 
b'en  out  de  pen'tenshy  'bout  three  munt's, 
whar  dey  sont  him  fer  stealin'  Marster's 
yearlin'.  Dar's  Bill  Simmons,  an'  he's  de 
outdashuses'  an'  de  beatenis'  scoun'el  in  de 
county;  an'  dar's  Jim  Banyin,  w'ut's  er  'zor- 
ter  an'  er  hyme-singer  an'  er  shouter  f'um  de 
forks  er  de  creek — but  sho'  ez  you  bo'n, 
chickens  bettah  roos'  on  der  top  pole  w'en 
he's  gwine  f'um  camp-meetin'.  Den  dar's 
liT  twis-laig  Simon,  I  lak  ter  not  seed  him. 
He's  er  fine  jurymans,  he  is!  Say,  Mr. 
Jedge,  does  yer  know  huccome  Simon'  laig  ter 
be  twissed  lak  it  is?  Well,  I  tell  yer.  You 
know  Marster  had  er  ol'  mule  name  Jane,  an' 
she  was  a  sho'-'nuff  debbul.  Well,  Simon  he 
'low  ez  how  he  kin  ride  any  kin'  er  mule- 
brute,  an'  he  jump  on  Jane,  an'  she  hump  up 
her  back  an'  fling  him  over  er  stake  an'  rider 
fence,  an'  bre'k  his  laig,  an'  de  doctor  got  it 
crooked,  an' ' 

"  But  de  jedge  holler,  '  Never  min'  'bout 
Simon  an'  de  mule.  Tell  'bout  dis  case.' 

"  '  Well  den,  w'ut  yer  wan'  me  ter  tell  ?  ' 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN     171 

"  Den  de  State's  'torney  say,  '  Does  yer 
know  de  'fen'ant  at  de  bar?  ' 

"  '  I  ain'  seen  no  bar.  Ef  yer  got  a  bar 
fer  de  witness'  w'ut  come  heah,  I  sho'  lak 
ter  hab  er  toddy  right  now.'  Den  de  jedge 
laff  out  loud. 

"  '  Do  you  know  Cap'n  Angus  Als'on?  '  de 
'torney  say. 

'Know  Cap'n  Angus  Als'on?  Co'se  I 
knows  him.  Ain'  I  b'en  knowin'  him  sence 
he  was  bo'n?  W'ut  de  use  er  yer  axin'  me 
sich  queschin  lak  dat?  ' 

'  Did  you  see  Cap'n  Als'on  shoot  Cap'n 
Harper?  '  de  'torney  say,  short  ez  pie-crus*. 

'W'ut  Cap'n  Harper  dat?     I  ain'  know 
any  sich  pusson  'tall.' 
"  '  Cap'n  Jack  Harper.' 
"  '  Eh,  eh!     W'en  he  got  ter  be  er  cap'n? 
W'ut  he  cap'n  ob?  ' 

"  '  Dat  none  er  yo'  bus'ness,'  de  'torney 
say;  '  but  he  was  cap'n  in  de  State  merlisher.' 

'  Lors  er  mussey !  Does  you  call  er  white 
man  cap'n  w'ut  strut  'roun'  'fo'  er  lot  er  nig- 
gers wid  er  red  kalliker  sash  'roun'  his  wais'  ? 
Ef  you  wanter  see  er  sho'-'nuff  cap'n  w'ut  fit 
lak  er  cattermount,  dar  he  is  right  dar — Cap'n 
Als'on.' 

'  I  ask  you  did  you  see  Cap'n  Als'on  shoot 
Jack  Harper?  ' 

'  How  I  ken  see  fru'  all  dem  niggers?  I 
heerd  a  pistil  shoot,  an'  seed  Jack  Harper  on 
de  groun',  but  I  dunno  huccome  him  dar. 


172    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

Dey  say  a  bullet  kilt  him.  I  don'  know  dat, 
'ca'se  I  ain't  see  no  bullet.' 

"  Well,  sah,  boss,  dey  bull-rag  an'  cross 
talk  dat  ol'  nigger  'bout  er  half  er  day,  but 
dey  ain't  nebber  got  outen  her  dat  she  see  any 
er  de  shootin'.  At  las'  de  jedge  say,  '  You 
kin  go;  nothin'  kin  be  got  outen  you.'  Den 
she  say,  *  Much  erbleege,  Jedge ;  an'  I  hopes 
ef  you  got  de  rumertiz  yer  won'  fergit  de 
yearth  wu'ms  an'  de  tuppentine  an'  de  sweet 
ile,  'ca'se  it  sho'  is  er  gran'  remerdy  fer  de 
rumertiz.'  An'  ez  fer  ez  dey  heerd  her  she 
was  still  er  gwine  on  talkin'. 

"  Dey  kep'  er  callin'  niggers  fer  witness', 
but  dar  ain'  na'y  one  sw'ar  he  see  Cap'n  Als'on 
shoot  er  single  shot;  but  atter  dey  done  keep 
on  'zamernin'  de  shur'ff  an'  de  depperty,  dey 
say  dey  heah  Cap'n  Als'on  say  he  shot  de 
'ceased  man;  an'  atter  er  while  Marster  say, 
sco'nful  like,  '  We  don'  'ny  dat  de  'fen'ant 
kill  him.' 

"  Den  de  State's  'torney  say,  *  We  res' ;  an' 
he  sho'  look  lak  he  was  tyud  ob  dat  job.  Den 
Marster  call  witness'  ter  proob  dat  Jack  Har- 
per slan'er  Cap'n  Als'on  dawter.  Den  de 
State's  'torney  an'  de  man  w'ut  ol'  man 
Harper  'ploy  to  he'p  pussecute,  jump  up  an' 
objeck  an'  r'ar  an'  scotch  an'  read  er  lot  er 
books,  an'  den  Marster  say  he  got  er  right  to 
proob  it,  en'  he  read  books,  an'  say  he  got  er 
hun'erd  witness'  ter  proob  dat  Jack  Harper 
slan'er  er  puah  young  lady  scan'lous;  an'  he 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN     173 

argerfy  an'  tell  w'ut  de  witness'  gwine  sw'ar 
twell  de  jurymen  done  heerd  it  all. 

"  Den  de  jedge  say,  *  De  'jection  ob  de 
State  is  'stained.'  Den  Marster  say,  '  Ve'y 
well,  ef  we  cain't  proob  de  truff,  we  trus'  to 
Goddermighty  an'  de  jury.'  Den  de  pleadin' 
bergin. 

"  De  li'l'  State's  carpetbag  'torney  he  pitch 
an'  snort  an'  holler  an'  sweat,  an'  tell  de  jury 
ter  hang  Cap'n  Als'on.  But  dat  jury  waitin' 
ter  heah  f'um  Marster,  an'  atter  er  while 
Marster  bergin.  Boss,  I  wish  you'd  heerd 
dat  speech.  Hit  sho'  was  a  speech  f'um  taw. 
Dar  ain'  nebber  b'en  no  sich  pleadin'  heerd 
in  dat  cote-house.  De  State's  'torney  say 
Cap'n  Als'on  rich  an'  kin  buy  de  bigges' 
loryur  in  de  State;  but  Marster  say,  '  I  let  yer 
know  I  don'  tek  money  f'um  my  neighbor  an' 
my  fr'en'.  I  'fen'  him  'ca'se  it  am  w'ut  he 
orter  done.'  Dem  niggers  knowed  who  was 
er  talkin',  an'  dat  dey  better  lis'en.  'Bout 
half  un  'em  b'long  ter  Marster  'fo'  freedom 
come  in  rotashun,  an'  de  res'  un  'em  all  b'en 
he'p'  by  him  wid  money  en  s'plies,  an'  de 
white  man  lib  on  one  er  his  san'ill  fahms  an' 
allers  behin'  wid  his  rent.  Marster  sho'  did 
retch  out  atter  dem  niggers. 

"  Sometimes  we'n  Marster  don'  be  nowhars 
'roun',  I  morks  him  an'  meks  dat  speech  fer 
de  white  gen'mens.  You  ort  ter  see  dem  nig- 
gers w'en  he  say,  '  De  Bibul  say,  you  mus'  do 
lak  you  wanter  be  done  by,  an  'ef  you  don'  do 


174    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

dat  way  you  gwine  ter  hell  an'  bu'n  furebber 
an'  furebber.  Ef  you  was  bein'  tried  an' 
Cap'n  Als'on  was  on  de  jury,  you  would  wan' 
him  ter  let  yer  go  free;  den,  'cordin'  ter  de 
Bibul,  you  got  ter  'quit  him,  dat  mean  you  got 
ter  let  him  go  free;  an'  ef  you  don't,  at  de 
Jedgment  Day  de  Great  Jedge  gwine  ter  pull 
de  Bibul  on  yer,  an'  you  gwine  ter  hell  ter 
roas'  thu'  'ternity,  'ca'se  de  Bibul  de  highes' 
law.'  An'  Marster  ben'  down  an'  talk  'way 
d-o-w-n  in  his  chis',  an'  shuk  his  finger  at  dem 
niggers,  an'  say,  '  I  tell  you  ter  'quit  Cap'n 
Als'on!  Ain't  yer  gwine  ter  do  it?'  Den 
hope  I  may  swaller  my  shoe  ef  ev'y  nigger  on 
dat  jury  ain't  done  nod  he  haid  good  ez  ter 
say,  '  Yes,  Marster;  we  gwine  tu'n  him  loose.' 
I  jes'  lean  over  an'  lis'en  ter  Marster  twell  I 
fergit  whar  I  was.  He  jes'  lif  me  up  in  de 
a'r,  an'  I  fergit  'bout  de  jedge  an'  de  cote- 
house,  an'  holler,  'Hooray  fer  Marster!' 
Jes'  den  de  jedge  happen  ter  be  er  lookin' 
to'rds  me,  an'  he  say,  '  I  fine  you  ten  dollars 
fer  'temp  ob  cote.'  Marster  riz  an'  say, 
'  Dat's  my  kerridge-driver.  I  pay  his  fine,' 
an'  he  flung  er  ten-dollar  bill  ter  de  clu'k  er  de 
cote,  jes'  lak  he  mean  ter  say  ef  he  pay  fer 
all  de  'temp  he  feel  't  would  tek  all  his  cotton 
crap. 

"  Well,  sah,  boss,  w'en  you  git  ter  talkin' 
sollum  ter  er  lot  er  niggers  'bout  hell  an'  de 
jedgment  you  got  'em  gwine,  an'  Marster  sho' 
had  dem  'leben  faded. 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN     175 

"  Dat  loryur  w'ut  was  he'pin'  ter  pussecute 
made  de  las'  speech,  an'  he  sho'ly  did  split 
de  a'r.  You  could  er  heerd  him  er  mile  an' 
er  half — but  he  b'en  was'in'  his  bref. 

"  Wen  he  quit  de  jedge  'mence  ter  read  er 
gre't  long  paper,  but  'fo'  he  start  he  say, 
'  Gen'men  ob  de  jury,  now  I'll  charge  you.' 
Den  twis'-laig  Simon  say,  *  Mr.  Jedge,  I 
t'ought  we  gwine  ter  git  pay  fer  settin'  heah 
'stid  er  chargin'  us  fer  it.'  An'  den  ev'ybody 
jes'  laff  twell  dey  cry.  De  jedge  say,  *  Set 
down,  sah,'  an'  Simon  drap  back  lak  he  was 
shot.  Den  de  jedge  read  a  gre't  big  paper. 
He  jes'  well  b'en  er  readin'  ter  er  daid  mule, 
'cause  dem  niggers  ner  dat  white  man  nei- 
der  wa'n'  gwine  ter  do  nuthin'  'g'inst  w'ut 
Marster  tell  'em. 

"  Wen  de  jedge  done  readin',  de  nigger 
shur'ff  start  down  de  sta'rs  ter  tek  de  jury  ter 
de  room  whar  dey  gwine  stay  twell  dey  'gree 
on  er  vuddick.  Jes'  ez  dey  was  er  gwine  down 
de  sta'rs  dar  was  two  white  men  right  behin' 
'em,  an'  one  un  'em  say  ter  t'other,  *  W'ut  you 
think  'bout  de  case?  '  De  other  man  say  he 
think  dey  will  'quit  Cap'n  Als'on  er  it  '11  be  er 
hung  jury.  De  las'  nigger  in  de  line  er  jury- 
mens  was  a  bow-leg,  bandy-shank,  mongul 
nigger,  an'  he  heerd  dat  white  man  say  it 
mout  be  er  hung  jury,  en'  w'en  he  got  ter  de 
bottom  er  de  sta'rs  he  lit  out  right  to'rds  de 
creek  bottom.  De  nigger  shur'ff  hollered  fer 
him  ter  come  back,  but  dat  nigger  keep  gwine. 


176    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

Purty  soon  he  struck  er  stump  an'  fell  ker- 
flummux,  en'  de  shur'ff  cotch  him,  an'  say, 
'  Whar  you  gwine?  W'ut  you  runnin'  fer?  ' 
De  nigger  was  blowin'  an'  pantin'  an'  he  say, 
4 1 — er — er — er  heerd  er  white  man  say  er — 
er — er  ef  de  jury  don'  'quit  Cap'n  Als'on  de 
jury  gwine  ter  be  hung.  I's  fer  'quittin'  him, 
but  I  dunno  w'edder  all  dem  jurymens  is 
gwine  ter  'gree  ter  dat  er  no,  an'  I  ain'  gwine 
ter  be  hunged  fer  na'y  man  in  de  worl',  not 
dis  nigger,  no,  sah !  '  De  shur'ff  'splanify  ter 
de  fool  nigger  an'  he  go  'long  wid  de  udders. 

"  'Bout  er  hour  dey  come  back,  an'  de  white 
man  done  sorter  writ  er  vuddick  dat  Cap'n 
Als'on  ain't  guilty  an'  orter  go  free  lak 
Marster  say.  Whoopee!  de  peepul  sho'  did 
holler  an'  fling  up  dey  hats,  an'  de  jedge  was 
mad  thu'  and  thu'. 

"  Marster  an'  Cap'n  Als'on  git  up  an'  lif 
dey  hats  ter  de  jedge  an'  walk  out  er  de  cote- 
house  ahm  in  ahm,  an'  de  bigges'  trial  ebber 
was  in  dis  county  come  ter  er  een'." 

Mr.  Standwick  had  listened  with  deep  in- 
terest to  Ned's  recital  of  the  tragedy  and  the 
trial,  and  when  Ned  said  the  verdict  was  not 
guilty,  he  exclaimed,  "What!  do  you  mean 
to  say  they  acquitted  Captain  Alston  entirely 
— did  not  fine  him  or  send  him  to  jail  or  to 
the  penitentiary?  " 

"  Co'se  not,  boss.  Cap'n  Als'on,  he's  er 
quality  gen'man,  an'  down  in  dis  kentry  dey 
don'  sen'  no  man  lak  dat — ner  fer  dat  matter, 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN     177 

no  udder  man — ter  no  pen'tenshy  fer  shootin' 
a  low-down  man  w'ut  slan'er  er  lady. 

"  Den,  boss,  dem  nigger  jurymens  an'  dat 
white  man  know  which  side  dey  bread 
buttered." 

"  With  such  a  jury  no  verdict  would  have 
been  surprising." 

"  Dat  didn'  mek  no  diff'unce  'tall,  boss. 
Ef  dar  had  b'en  twelbe  er  de  qualityes'  men 
in  de  county  on  dat  jury  'twould  er  b'en  de 
same  way.  I  heerd  Marster  say  it's  de  law 
w'ut  ain't  writ  in  no  book,  but  it's  in  de  hearts 
er  men.  An',  boss,  mos'  mens,  'speshully 
niggers,  follow  dey  hearts  rudder  dan  dey 
haids." 

"  The  facts  you  relate,"  said  Mr.  Stand- 
wick,  "  are  remarkable,  and  1  am  puzzled. 
Up  where  I  live,  Captain  Alston  would  have 
been  convicted,  maybe  he  might  have  been 
hanged;  but  I  know  he  is  a  gallant,  honorable, 
pure-hearted  gentleman,  and  a  most  lovable 
man." 

"  Dat's  so,  boss;  I  done  tell  you  dat.  You 
fin'  him  true  blue  ebb'ry  time.  He  perlite  ter 
white  an'  black,  he  good  ter  niggers,  he  lub 
chillun — but  no  man  mustn't  fool  erlong  er 
him  er  his  fambly,  er  tetch  him  whar  he's 
proud." 


CHAPTER   XI 

AFTER  dinner  Mr.  Standwick  took  a  restful 
afternoon  nap,  then  wrote  a  short  letter. 
Then,  feeling  sure  that  in  no  way  could  he 
be  better  entertained  or  more  interested  than 
by  talking  with  Ned,  or  rather  in  hearing  Ned 
talk,  he  reminded  him  that  he  had  promised 
to  tell  him  how  the  Captain  saved  the  house. 

"  Now,  boss,  dat's  a  tolerbul  long  story,  an' 
I  hab  ter  start  back  a  good  ways  ter  mek  you 
onnerstan'  it. 

"  Well,  you  see  de  night  de  Feddul  so'gers 
bu'ned  de  house  whar  Miss  Lucy  was  visitin', 
Cap'n  Chawles  Stan'ick,  de  Feddul  cap'n, 
happen'  ter  be  passin'  dat  way;  but  he  got  dar 
too  late  ter  stop  de  fiah,  an'  he  was  sho'  mad. 
He  fin'  Miss  Lucy  stan'in'  in  de  rain  an'  col' 
in  de  night  jes'  'fo'  day,  an'  he  pow'ful  perlite 
an'  ax  her  whar  she  lib;  but  she  bein'  a  sho'- 
'nuff  rebbul,  ez  you  call  'em,  she  don'  wan'  talk 
erlong  er  no  Yankee;  but  she  say  she  Cunnel 
Marshall's  dawter  an'  tell  him  whar  she  lib. 

"  Den  he  tuk  his  obercoat  an'  ax  her  ter 
put  it  on.  Soon's  she  see  him  whar  it  was 
good  light  she  mos'  faint,  'ca'se  she  think  it 
was  Cap'n  Arthur,  he  look  so  much  lak  him; 
but  atter  er  while  she  see  de  diff'unce. 
178 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'   GENTMAN     179 

"  He  fas'en  his  hoss  an'  fin'  her  saddle-hoss 
in  de  big  lot,  an'  ketch  him  an'  put  her  saddle 
on  him,  an'  he'p  her  up  an'  'scort  her  home. 
He  ain't  sot  his  foot  in  de  house,  but  he  jes' 
rid  up  ter  de  big  gate  an'  lif  his  hat  an'  bow; 
an'  bein's  how  she  was  a  high-bo'n  lady,  ob 
co'se  she  bow  an'  thank  him  kin'ly  an'  he  rid 
away. 

"  When  she  come  ter  de  house  an'  tell 
Marster  all  'bout  her  'sper'ence  an'  tell  him 
how  a  Feddul  cap'n  rid  home  wid  her  an'  ain't 
speak  a  w'ud  ter  her,  an'  ain't  try  ter  fo'ce  his 
'tentions  on  her,  Marster  say,  '  Thank  Gawd, 
dar's  one  gent'man  in  de  Yankee  ahmy.'  You 
see  his  chile,  de  ve'y  idol  ob  his  heart,  b'en 
most  bu'nt  to  death  fust  an'  freeze  nex',  an' 
he  was  sho'  mad. 

"  She  tell  her  pa  dat  de  Feddul  cap'n  was 
so  much  lak  Cap'n  Arthur  her  eyes  could 
sca'sely  tell  de  diff'unce,  but  her  heart  tol'  her. 
'Cordin'  ter  Marster,  Cap'n  Chawles  hadder 
kin'  er  innerpen'ent  comp'ny,  sorter  scoutin' 
comp'ny,  an'  he  tuk  it  whar  he  please,  an'  mos' 
er  de  time  he  stay  to'rds  de  hin'  een'  er  de 
Feddul  ahmy,  to  look  out  fer  dem  niggers 
w'ut  was  stealin'  an'  bu'nin'. 

"  Er  big  part  er  de  ahmy  camp  mos'  er 
week  jes'  b'low  heah,  an'  de  way  dem  nigger 
so'gers  steal  an'  bu'n  an'  'buse  peepul  was 
scan'lous. 

"  One  day  er  bunch  un  'em  go  ter  Cap'n 
Als'on's  house.  Dey  heerd  he  wuz  in  de  ahmy 


i8o    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

on  our  side,  an'  dey  'ten  ter  rob  his  house  an' 
den  bu'n  it.  Dar  wa'n'  no  pusson  dar  'cep'n 
Miss  Jean  an'  her  aunty  an'  de  brudder  w'ut 
b'en  shot  in  de  Fed'rit  ahmy,  an'  he  was  on 
cru'ches. 

"  Dem  nigger  so'gers  jes'  walk  right  in  an' 
'gin  ter  grab  silber  an'  smash  picters  an'  hunt 
fer  watches  an'  rings  an'  de  lak,  an'  de  two 
po'  ladies  an'  de  crippul  so'ger  cain't  he'p 
deyse'ves.  Jes'  de  day  befo'  Cap'n  Chawles 
had  rid  up  an'  got  'er  drink  er  water,  an'  he 
see  Miss  Jean;  but  she  ain't  speak  ter  him, 
'ca'se,  boss,  dese  young  quality  white  ladies 
did  sho'  'spise  de  Yankee  so'gers.  He  tell  de 
nigger  gal  w'ut  han'  him  de  water  ter  tell  her 
mistiss  he  gwine  ter  sen'  some  er  his  men  ter 
guard  de  house. 

'  Well,  nex'  day  he  was  ridin'  up  ter  de 
house  wid  ten  er  his  men,  an'  was  gwine  ter 
le'be  de  guard,  w'en  he  see  dem  niggers  ober 
dar  an'  he  know  dey  up  ter  some  debilment, 
so  he  an'  his  men  wen'  down  dar  in  a  gallop 
jes'  in  time  ter  see  a  big  nigger  gittin'  erway 
wid  silberw'ar  an'  julery,  an'  ernudder  one 
mek  lak  he  gwine  shoot  de  crippul  young  man 
'ca'se  he  don'  tell  whar  he  got  money  hid,  an' 
ernudder  one  was  jes'  'bout  ter  git  hoi'  er 
Miss  Jean,  an'  de  low-down  white  ossifer  was 
'bout  ter  set  fire  ter  de  house. 

"  De  Cap'n's  men  b'liebed  in  him  thu'  an* 
thu',  an'  dey  didn'  'noy  women-folks,  ner  rob 
houses  ner  bu'n  'em. 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'   GENTMAN     181 

"  Wen  dey  see  de  nigger  so'ger  atter  de 
crippul  young  man,  an'  ernudder  one  atter 
Miss  Jean,  dey  pull  down  on  'em  an'  drap  'em 
both  daid  as  er  doah  nail,  an'  den  de  balluns 
un  'em  an'  de  low-down  white  ossifer  bre'k 
out  er  dat  house  an'  run  lak  skeered  rabbits; 
but  de  Cap'n's  men  tuk  a  pop  at  de  ossifer 
an'  drap  him  too,  thank  Gawd. 

"  Dem  niggers  w'ut  'scaped  done  gone  an' 
tell  de  colonel  ob  de  rig'ment  dat  de  rebbuls 
ober  dar  'tacked  'em,  an'  de  colonel  lit  out 
ober  ter  Cap'n  Als'on's  house,  an'  w'en  he  see 
de  two  daid  niggers  an'  de  daid  ossifer  he  ax 
who  kilt  'em,  an'  Cap'n  Chawles  lif  he  cap 
an'  s'lute  an'  say,  '  My  men,  sah';  an'  he  tell 
de  cunnell  dem  niggers  an'  de  white  man  was 
'sultin'  an'  robbin'  ladies  an'  er  crippul  so'ger, 
an'  tryin'  ter  bu'n  de  house,  an'  de  cunnel  say, 
'  Good,  Cap'n;  wish  you'd  er  kilt  'em  all.' 

"  When  Marster  heerd  dis  he  say,  '  Thank 
Gawd,  dar's  two  gent'men  in  de  Yankee 
ahmy.'  Marster  mighty  seldom  speak  onkin' 
er  say  hard  wu'ds,  but  he  was  mad  fer  true. 

"  Den  Cap'n  Chawles  say,  *  Five  ob  you 
men  stay  heah  an'  perteck  dis  house  twell  I 
tell  you  ter  quit.  De  res'  ob  you  go  wid  me 
ter  de  udder  big  house  on  de  udder  hill  'bout 
er  mile;  I  know  who  lib  dar.'  Den  he  lif 
his  hat  an'  say,  '  I  will  'scort  you  ladies  an'  dis 
crippul  gen'man  ter  Cunnel  Marshall's  ef 
you  wish.' 

"  Den  Cap'n  Als'on's  son  say  he  thank  him, 


1 82    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

but  he  an'  his  aunty  will  stay  ef  he  le'be  some 
er  his  men  ter  guard  de  house ;  but  he  be  ve'y 
glad  ef  he  tek  Miss  Jean.  Her  ridin'-hoss 
was  in  de  hoss-lot.  Miss  Jean  ain't  say  er 
wu'd,  'cept  she  say  sorter  low  ter  her  brudder, 
1  De  Cap'n  jes'  lak  Cap'n  Arthur;  I  kin  mos' 
b'liebe  it's  him.' 

"  In  er  few  minnits  Miss  Jean's  high-step- 
pin'  black  was  saddle'  up,  an'  she  tuk  him  an' 
led  him  ter  de  mountin'  block,  an'  hop  on,  an' 
she  'ten'  she  ain'  see  Cap'n  Chawles,  an'  rid 
off.  She  ain'  'ten'  ter  be  imperlite,  but  she 
cain't  fergit  she  suddern  and  he  Yankee 
so'ger;  but  dat  ve'y  minnit  she  was  hopin'  ez 
how  he  was  gwine  ride  erlong  side  her. 

"  De  Cap'n  ain'  tek  no  'fense,  but  he  an' 
five  er  his  men  'scort  her  ter  de  big  gate,  an' 
den  all  un  'em  lif  dey  hats,  an'  she  rid  in; 
but  she  lady  bo'n  lak  Miss  Lucy,  an'  she  tu'n 
an'  bow  pow'ful  graceful,  an'  smile  an'  say 
she  ve'y  much  'bleeged,  an'  very  much  'debted 
ter  'em,  an'  she  thank  'em  ve'y  kin'ly,  an'  den 
she  rid  off;  an'  dem  so'gers  think  she  de 
purties'  thing  dey  ebber  see  in  dey  lives;  an' 
der  wa'n'  nothin'  purtier  'ceptin'  Miss  Lucy, 
an'  'twas  nip  an'  tuck  'twix'  dem  two  which 
was  de  purties'  an'  de  sweetes'. 

"  Cap'n  Chawles  he  ain't  tek  his  eyes  off'n 
her  twell  she  out  er  sight,  den  he  say,  '  She's 
a  proud  an'  purty  liT  rebbul ' ;  an'  his  heart 
was  gwine  pitty-pat  right  den. 

"  Miss  Jean  b'en  jes'  much  at  home  here 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN     183 

ez  she  b'en  at  Rose  Hill, — dat's  Cap'n 
Alston's  place, — an'  she  'mejutly  bergin  ter 
tell  how  de  Cap'n  sabe  de  house  an'  de  silber, 
an'  how  orful  'twas  ter  see  men  kilt,  ef  dey 
was  robbers,  an'  all  'bout  de  turribul  time; 
an'  den  w'ut  you  reckon  she  say,  boss?  " 

"  I  am  sure  I  don't  know,"  said  Mr.  Stand- 
wick,  "  and  I  will  not  undertake  even  to  guess 
what  a  charming  young  lady  would  say  under 
such  circumstances." 

"  Well,  boss,  wimmen  folks  sho'  is  cur'us, 
an'  dar  ain'  no  'countin'  fer  'em,  'speshully 
w'en  er  good-lookin'  man  wid  brass  buttons 
en  er  swode  is  cavortin'  'roun'  'em. 

"  Now  you  rickerleck,  her  house  b'en  rob', 
her  silber  b'en  stole,  she  b'en  'suited,  an'  dey 
hatter  kill  er  couple  er  niggers  an'  er  white 
man  ter  sabe  de  house  f 'um  bu'nin' ;  but  soon 
she  done  tellin'  'bout  all  de  ruckshun  ter  her 
house,  she  clap  her  han's  an'  twis'  her  haid  de 
cokettis'  kin'  er  way,  an'  say,  '  Oh,  Lucy,  he 
is  jes'  ez  han'some  ez  he  kin  be,  an'  jes'  ez 
graceful,  an'  got  de  lublis'  eyes  an'  de  sweetes' 
smile!  O,  I  jes'  wish  he  wa'n't  er  old  miz- 
zurbul  Yankee !  '  an'  she  kept  er  gwine  on 
dat  er  way.  I  says  ter  mahse'f,  '  He  do  be 
Yankee  sho'  'nuff,  but  he's  er  gen'man  ' ;  an' 
I  see  de  symptum  ob  trouble  ob  de  heart  fer 
a  young  'oman. 

"  Now  don'  dat  beat  de  Jews !  Robbin', 
an'  bu'nin',  an'  killin',  an'  er  man  save  her 
home  an'  'scort  her  ter  er  safe  place,  an'  she 


1 84    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

won'  speak  ter  him,  an'  soon  he  gone  she 
'mence  ter  ca'y  on  ober  his  han'someness  an' 
his  lubly  eyes  an'  his  sweet  smile.  'Tain'  no 
use  talkin'  'bout  Vidin'  lines  an'  flags  an' 
nuniforms  w'en  er  purty  'oman  git  her  glance 
fas'en  on  er  good-lookin'  man,  an'  er  so'ger 
man  at  dat. 

"  Miss  Jean  stay  here  'ca'se  she  was  lak 
one  er  Miss  Ma'y's  chillun,  an'  de  nex'  day 
dar  sho'  was  lots  er  trubbel  an'  'citement  right 
heah  on  dis  place,  an'  de  Feddul  ahmy  los'  er 
few  mo'  nigger  so'gers,  thank  Gawd.  But, 
boss,  you  hab  ter  'scuse  me  'bout  er  hour 
twell  I  kin  go  ter  de  cotton-patch  an'  fling  my 
eyes  fer  a  li'l'  w'ile  on  dem  free  niggers.  I 
'speck  right  now  dey  'sputin'  'bout  polerticks 
er  'ligion,  an'  dey  don'  know  nuttin'  'bout 
neider  one;  but  dey  let  de  cotton  be  los'  w'ile 
dey  stan'  dar  an'  squabbul." 

Ned  returned  promptly,  and  resumed  his 
story  of  how  the  Captain  saved  the  house. 

'  You  'member,  boss,  I  tol'  you  'bout  seein' 
a  li'l'  yaller  nigger  in  N'  Yawk,  an'  dat  I  had 
to  lef  him  quick  'fo'  I  stomp  him  in  de  yearth 
fer  sayin'  he  comin'  down  Souf,  an'  gwine  call 
on  mah  young  Mistiss,  de  imperdent  half- 
breed  dat  he  was.  An'  I  tol'  you  I  done  see 
him  ergin." 

"  How  did  you  happen  to  see  him,  and 
where?" 

'  Well,  you  see,  boss,  dat  de  bigges'  part 
ob  de  Feddul  ahmy  ain'  go  right  by  dis  house, 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN     185 

but  go  'way  back  er  de  plan'ashun,  an'  dar 
wa'n'  but  mighty  few  so'gers  stragglin'  cr- 
roun'  twell  de  ahmy  camped  down  b'low  heah. 

"  I  was  down  dar  lookin'  atter  de  fences, 
w'ich  wa'n'  'sturbed,  ''ca'se  w'en  de  ve'y  fust 
Fedduls  corned  in  dese  parts  de  'mander  ob 
'em  was  er  man  w'ut  he'p  Marster  fight  de 
Mex'kins  'fo'  dis  las'  wah,  an'  he  come  right 
ter  dis  house  an'  lef  er  order  wid  Marster  dat 
de  udder  Fedduls  'spected  fer  a  long  time, 
twell  nigger  so'gers  'mence  ter  'pear  in  dese 
parts. 

"  De  Feddul  ahmy  kep'  er  marchin'  by  an' 
er  marchin'  by,  twell  it  look  lak  dere  was  er 
millyun  so'gers. 

u  Long  to'rds  de  hin'  een'  dar  was  er  lot 
er  niggers  wid  white  cap'ns,  an'  one  comp'ny 
stop  an'  de  men  all  lay  down  ter  res';  but  a 
liT  yaller  nigger  corp'ral  er  some  sich  ossifer 
kep'  er  lookin'  at  me,  an'  at  las'  he  say,  '  Ain' 
I  seen  you  befo'  somewhar?  '  I  say  mebbe 
so,  I  b'en  dar.  Den  he  say,  *  You  needn'  git 
smart.  Ain'  I  seen  you  in  N'  Yawk?  '  Den 
I  say,  '  Mebbe  you  is.  I  b'en  dar  befo'  de 
wah';  an'  den  I  see  some  lakness  ob  de  liT 
yaller  hotel  waiter,  an'  sho'  'nuff  'twas  him. 

"  He  had  some  kin'er  valler  stuff  on  de 
sleebe  er  his  coat,  an'  er  li'l  cap  'bout  big  ez 
er  jay  bird  nes'  dat  set  on  one  side  his  haid, 
an'  he  say,  '  So  you  see  I'se  here.  I  tol'  you 
I  was  er  comin',  an'  we  gwine  ter  camp  not 
ve'y  fer  f'um  heah;  an'  ef  it  ain'  too  fer  ter 


1 86    NED:   NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

whar  you  lib,  I  think  I  call  on  dat  purty  young 
lady  you  call  Miss  Lucy.  Is  you  still  libbin' 
wid  dat  ol'  man  you  call  Marster?' 

"I  say,  'Yes,  he  my  Marster  yit;  an'  he 
lib  ober  yander  'bout  fo'  mile,'  Den  he  say, 
'I  be  ober  soon  ter  see  yo'  young  Mistiss; 
an'  I  say  ter  mahse'f,  '  Nigger,  you  sho'ly  ain' 
'low  ter  go  back  whar  you  come  f'um;  you 
breedin'  er  scab  right  now.' ' 

"  But  you  were  going  to  tell  me  how  the 
Captain  saved  the  house,"  said  Mr.  Stand- 
wick. 

"  I'se  gwine  ter  do  dat  ve'y  thing,  boss,  an' 
I'm  er  gittin'  to'rds  it  now;  an'  you  gwine  ter 
see  de  'nexshun  'twix'  w'ut  I  b'en  er  sayin'  an' 
de  sabin'  er  de  house.  I  lef  dat  nigger,  but 
I  ain't  had  no  idee  he  gwine  be  big  'nuff  fool 
ter  come  ter  my  Marster's  house  sho'  'nuff; 
but  I  wanter  debbul  Hester,  an'  see  her  git  up 
an'  tu'n  herse'f  loose,  so  w'en  I  git  home  I  tell 
her  how  I  see  dat  liT  yaller  nigger  w'ut  we 
bofe  see  in  N'  Yawk,  an'  she  say,  '  Tubbesho' 
you  didn't !  '  an'  I  say,  c  I  sw'ar  I  see  him. 
An',  Hester,  he  say  he  gwine  come  ter  call  on 
Miss  Lucy.' 

"  Den  Hester  stop  sweepin'  de  settin'-room, 
an'  she  lean  on  de  brum  an'  look  at  me  hard 
fer  a  long  time,  an'  I  bergin  ter  git  nervyus, 
wid  her  got  er  good  holt  on  dat  brum;  but 
atter  er  while  she  say,  '  G'long  'way  f'um 
heah,  you  ol'  fool  Ned,  'fo'  I  gib  you  a  swipe 
wid  dis  brum.  You  know  dar  ain'  na'y  nig- 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENTMAN     187 

ger  in  de  worl'  bigger  fool  'nuff  ter  come  ter 
call  on  my  Mistiss'  dawter.  You  know  dat 
de  riches',  qualitis'  young  white  gen'mens  is 
proud  ter  ride'  long  er  side  er  her,  an'  when 
Marster  was  in  Congiss  at  Washin'ton  de 
Queen'  son  was  pow'ful  hope  up  'ca'se  he  was 
'lowed  ter  dance  wid  her;  an'  now  you  stan' 
dar  talkin'  'bout  er  HT  yaller  Yankee  nigger 
so'ger  callin'  on  her.  Ugh!  You  sho'  is 
gone  plum  crazy!  ' 

"  Den  I  say,  '  'Tain'  me  gone  crazy,  it 
mus'  be  dat  li'l'  whipper-snapper  nigger,  an' 
I  b'liebe  it  is.'  *  Well,'  she  say,  '  he  mout 
come;  but  I  don'  b'liebe  dar  ebber  was  a  nig- 
ger but  w'ut  got  mo'  sense  'an  ter  come  ter 
call  on  mah  young  Mistiss.  De  Lawd  have 
mussey!  De  idee!  A  nigger  talkin'  'bout 
settin'  up  in  Marster's  parlor  'long  er  side  er 
Miss  Lucy — w'ut  am  de  worl'  er  comin'  to? 
I  jes'  soon  'speck  ter  see  Marster's  ridin'-hoss 
leadin'  er  de  'tillyun  at  de  next  Christmas 
dance.  But  ef  he  do  come,  Ned,  an'  you  see 
him  'fo'  he  gits  heah,  you  jes'  lem  me  know, 
an'  I  boun'  I  'ten  ter  him.  I  bet  you  w'en  I 
git  done  wid  him  he  b'en  los'  a  lot  er  dat 
imperdence  he  got  now.' 

De  ve'y  nex'  day  was  er  Sadday,  an' 
Hester  was  er  cleanin'  an'  er  scourin'  de  house 
f'um  top  ter  bottom.  You  onnerstan',  boss, 
she  ain't  doin'  wu'k  herse'f,  'ca'se  she  sco'n  to 
bemean  herse'f  'nuff  ter  scour;  but  she  mek 
two  co'n-fiel'  niggers  f'um  de  quarters  do  de 


1 88    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

wu'k  w'ile  she  super'ten.  Hester  pow'ful  fer 
ter  super'ten.  She  hab  great  big  tub  er  soap- 
suds an  'er  mop  in  it,  an'  she  done  mek  de  two 
niggers  fling  saf  lye  soap  all  ober  de  hall  an' 
de  po'ch  an'  de  steps. 

Jes'  'bout  dat  time  I  see  a  nigger  ridin' 
down  de  road,  an'  hope  er  may  die  ef  it  wa'n' 
dat  III1  nigger  so'ger  f'um  N'  Yawk.  I  tol' 
Hester  he  was  er  comin'  an'  she  say,  '  I 
wouldn't  er  b'liebe  dar  was  sich  er  fool  nigger 
in  de  whole  worl'.  You  sho'ly  mus'  be  er 
jokin',  Ned.'  Den  I  say,  '  You  jes'  look 
outen  de  doah  an'  you  kin  see  him.'  She 
flung  up  her  han's  an'  say,  '  De  Lawd  he'p  us ! 
Dat  sho'ly  is  de  outbeatines'  an'  imperdentes' 
nigger  ebber  I  seed.  But  I'se  ready  fer 
him.'" 

The  old  negro  paused  and  sat  in  silence  for 
a  moment,  looking  hard  at  Mr.  Standwick, 
as  if  to  make  his  words  more  impressive,  and 
then  said  slowly,  "  Boss,  is  you  ebber  heerd  ob 
any  imperdence  ekal  ter  dat  ob  a  nigger  corn- 
in'  ter  call  on  mah  young  Mistiss?  " 

Mr.  Standwick  did  not  seem  very  much 
impressed.  "  He  was  quite  bold  even  for  a 
soldier  in  the  army,  if  he  was  a  soldier.  He 
had  never  been  introduced  to  the  young  lady, 
and  she  did  not  know  whether  he  was  a 
gentleman." 

"  Gen'man !  He  was  er  nigger  so'ger  an' 
er  yaller  nigger  at  dat;  an'  ez  fer  him  bein' 
interjuce  ter  my  young  Mistiss,  ef  he  lib  twell 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENT'MAN     189 

he  be  so  ol'  dat  Methuserlum  was  a  baby 
'long  er  side  er  him,  he  ain'  gwine  ter  be  inter- 
juce  ter  her  nuther." 

"  Why,"  said  Mr.  Standwick,  "  we  have 
very  few  colored  people  up  where  I  live;  but 
worthy  young  colored  men  sometimes  walk 
with  young  white  women  and  call  on  them, 
and  the  young  soldier  may  have  proved  agree- 
able to  your  young  Mistress  as  a  visitor." 

The  old  negro  made  no  immediate  reply, 
but  rose  and  stepped  back  a  step  or  two,  and 
gazed  fixedly  at  Mr.  Standwick,  his  face  ex- 
pressing perplexity  and  amazement. 

He  had  heard  a  white  man,  a  gentleman, 
who  spoke  with  evident  sincerity,  make  state- 
ments which  revealed  sentiments  and  condi- 
tions that  to  him  were  absolutely  incompre- 
hensible. When  he  had  somewhat  recovered 
himself  he  stepped  quickly  toward  Mr.  Stand- 
wick, near  enough  to  touch  him,  and  said, 

1  'Scuse  me,  boss,  I  don'  mean  no  disre- 
speck,  but  it  seem  lak  you  don'  comperhen' 
w'ut  I  mean.  I  say  dat  a  nigger,  an'  er  yal- 
ler  nigger  at  dat,  say  he  gwine  call  on  my 
young  Mistiss,  an'  I'm  sartin'  you  ain't  neb- 
ber  heah  de  lak  er  sich  imperdence." 

"  As  I  have  said,  Ned,  it  was  hardly  proper 
for  him,  a  stranger,  to  do  so,  unless  he  had 
been  invited  by  some  of  the  family." 

This  statement  was  made  with  evident  sin- 
cerity, but  it  was  more  than  Ned  could  stand. 

"  Goddermighty,    boss ! "     he    exclaimed, 


igo    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

and  in  his  surprise  and  excitement  he  took 
hold  of  the  wrist  of  Mr.  Standwick  with  a 
tight  grasp;  but  he  immediately  released  it, 
and  bowed  low,  apologizing  humbly  for  his 
impulsive  action.  "  Please  'scuse  me,  boss; 
I  was  sho'  'cited;  I  couldn't  'spress  myse'f 
so's  ter  mek  you  onnerstan'  mah  feelin's  w'en 
I  think  er  dat  nigger's  imperdence. 

"  'Vite  by  de  fambly;  dis  fambly?  My 
iMarster  Vite  dat  nigger?  Tubbesho',  boss, 
you  cain't  onnerstan'.  My  Marster,  Gunnel 
Marshall,  de  riches'  man  in  de  county,  an' 
de  smartis'  man,  an'  de  gran'es'  man,  an'  de 
bes'  man  in  de  worl',  an'  a  quality  gen'man 
f'um  de  groun'  up,  lak  his  daddy  was  befo' 
him,  Vite  a  nigger,  an'  er  yaller  nigger  at  dat, 
an'  furdermo'  a  Yankee  so'jer  at  dat,  ter  call 
on  his  dawter.  I  sw'ar,  boss,  you  could 
knock  me  down  wid  a  fedder. 

"  Boss,  dar  ain'  na'y  nigger  bo'n  since  de 
fus'  nigger  Ham  'rived  w'ut  could  go  inter 
Marster's  house  ter  mek  a  soshul  call  on  mah 
young  Mistiss,  long  ez  I  got  two  ahms  an' 
dar's  a  club  layin'  erroun'  anywhar  handy; 
an'  dat  nigger  didn'  go,  nuther." 

'Why,  you  didn't  club  him,  did  you?" 

"  No,  sah,  I  ain'  club  him;  but  ha,  ha,  ha ! 
boss,  I  wish  you  could  er  seen  dat  nigger  w'en 
he  lef  dar.  He  got  down  an'  hitch  he  hoss, 
an'  he  had  dat  same  li'l'  cap  stickin'  on  one 
side  his  haid  over  his  yeer,  an'  he  got  boots 
on  wid  spurs,  an'  a  swode,  an'  he  come  step- 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN     191 

pin'  quick  an'  short,  lak  a  stringhalt  hoss,  er 
a  chicken  er  walkin'  on  a  hot  stove  lid;  an'  I 
slip  'hin'  dat  big  tree  dar  an'  he  ain'  see  me,  so 
he  ma'ch  up  dese  ve'y  steps  to  dis  po'ch,  an' 
lif  up  de  knocker  an'  fetch  it  down  hard  on 
de  doah  dat  Hester  done  shet. 

"  Hester  come  to  de  doah,  an'  dat  nigger 
streten  up  an'  tech  his  swode  an'  say: '  Is  Miss 
Marshall  in  ? '  Hester  look  at  him  up  an' 
down  an'  back  erg'in,  an'  den  she  quirl  her 
upper  lip  twell  hit  mos'  retch  ober  de  een'  er 
her  nose,  and  she  say,  '  Dat's  none  er  yo'  bus'- 
ness;  but  I'se  here.'  An'  she  jes'  lif  de  mop 
outen  de  soap-suds  an'  fetch  it  right  down  on 
dat  nigger's  face.  His  cap  flew  up  in  de  a'r, 
an'  he  tu'n  ter  run,  an'  he  step  on  a  big  daub  er 
saf  soap,  an'  he  fell  head  fo'mos'  down  dem 
steps,  an'  when  he  totch  de  groun'  I  jes'  tuk 
him  by  de  scruff  er  de  neck  an'  de  laig  er  his 
britches  an'  flung  him  right  in  dat  fount'in 
whar  de  'teshun  well  runnin',  an'  w'en  he  riz 
he  snort  an'  cough  an'  look  lak  a  drownded 
rat,  an'  de  way  he  got  ter  dat  hoss  an'  lit  out 
was  a  cawshun. 

"  W'en  he  outen  retch  of  a  club  he  holler 
an'  say,  '  I  gwine  ter  git  even  wid  you !  '  An' 
I  say,  '  All  right;  '11  be  dar  w'en  you  come ! ' 
An'  den  me  an'  Hester  jes'  lay  down  an'  laff 
an' holler  an' shout  twell  I  mos'  bust  de  buttons 
off  my  britches. 

"  I  say,  '  Hester,  don'  you  say  nuttin'  ter 
Marster  'bout  dat  nigger  er  comin'  ter  call  on 


i92    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

his  dawter,  'ca'se  ef  you  do  dere  gwine  ter  be 
trubbel  ef  he  gotter  tackle  de  Yankee  ahmy.' 
So  Marster  ain1  know  it  'tall,  fer  jes'  as  good 
luck  happen,  all  de  fambly  b'en  upsta'rs  on 
de  back  gall'ry,  an'  ain'  see  de  li'P  nigger 
comin'  er  gwine.  Well,  sah,  dat  nigger  did 
sho'  try  ter  git  eben,  an'  he  come  mighty  nigh 
er  doin'  hit,  too. 

"  Some  days  atter  dat  a  white  sujjunt  an' 
th'ee  er  de  blackes'  niggers  ebber  you  seed,  an' 
two  yaller  niggers  come  heah  to  dis  house, 
an'  hope  I  may  die  ef  one  un  'em  wa'n'  dat 
same  liT  yaller  nigger,  an'  de  udder  one  was 
wusser  'n  him. 

"  Er  nigger-trader  come  erlong  heah  jes' 
'fo'  de  wah  an'  had  dis  udder  yaller  nigger 
fer  sale,  an'  de  nigger  'seech  Marster  ter  buy 
him,  'ca'se  he  say  dat  nigger-trader  gwine  sell 
him  ter  dat  man  Harper  w'ut  you  stop  wid 
t'  other  night,  er  some  udder  mean  man. 
Marster  already  got  mo'  niggers  den  he  got 
any  use  fer,  but  he  feel  sorry  fer  dat  cock- 
eyed yaller  scoun'rel,  an'  he  bo't  him  an'  den 
toP  de  man  w'ut  sol'  him  ter  move  off,  'ca'se 
Marster  jes'  nach'lly  did  'spise  a  nigger- 
trader. 

"  Dat  was  de  nappies'  nigger  you  ebber 
seed;  he  fa'rly  dance  wid  joy;  but  jes'  ez  soon 
ez  he  heerd  of  er  Yankee  ahmy  he  lit  out, 
an'  de  nex'  time  I  seed  him  he  was  right  heah. 
An'  w'ut  you  reckon  he  come  fer?  He  come 
ter  he'p  rob  an'  bu'n  dis  house." 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENT'MAN     193 

"  Oh,  no !     You  do  not  mean  that  a  ser- 

geant  and  five  men  came  here  to  rob  this 
ouse  and  then  burn  it?" 

"  Yes,  sah;  dey  'lowed  ter  bu'n  dis  house. 
Dey  come  here  ter  bu'n  dis  house  whar  Mars- 
ter  an'  Miss  Ma'y  an'  Miss  Lucy  an'  Hester 
an'  me  all  done  nuss  lots  er  sick  an'  wounded 
Yankee  so'gers  an'  ain't  charge  na'y  one  un 
'em  er  cent,  jes'  'ca'se  we  feel  sorry  fer  dem  in 
dey  suff'rin'.  De  sujiunt  he  was  de  meanes'- 
lookin'  white  man  an  de  lowes'-down-lookin' 
white  man  you  ebber  see.  He  say,  soon  as 
dey  rid  up,  '  Go  in  an'  get  de  silber  an'  de 
watches  an'  whatebber  money  de  damned  oP 
'ristercrat  got,  dat  you  kin  fin',  den  we'll  ten' 
ter  de  house.' 

"  Now,  Marster  an'  Miss  Ma'y  an'  Miss 
Lucy  an'  Miss  Jean  was  in  de  settin'-room  an' 
de  curt'ins  was  down,  an'  dey  ain'  seen  de  nig- 
gers an'  de  ossifer  ride  up,  so  Hester  she  went 
'roun'  de  back  way  ter  tell  Marster  she  heerd 
de  sujjunt  tell  de  niggers  ter  rob  de  house, 
an'  Marster  start  ter  go  out;  but  Miss  Ma'y 
ain't  let  him,  an'  lock  de  door  ter  keep  him  in 
de  room. 

"  Dem  niggers  ain't  pay  no  'tenshun  ter 
me  'tall,  'cept  dat  li'P  yaller  nigger  w'ut  I 
th'owed  in  de  fount'in,  an'  he  say,  '  You  see, 
I  done  come  back,  an'  I  gwine  ter  'ten'  ter 
you  an'  yo'  'ristercrat  white  folks.'  Dat  ud- 
der nigger  keep  lookin'  roun'  lak  he  feered 
he  gwine  see  Marster,  an'  atter  er  while  he 


194    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

went  'roun'  whar  dem  udder  niggers  was. 
Den  de  liT  yaller  nigger  pull  de  blin's  open 
an'  see  Marster  an'  Miss  Ma'y  and  Miss  Jean 
an'  Miss  Lucy  an'  Hester,  all  in  de  settin'- 
room,  an  he  say,  *  Here  she  is.  I  reckon  I 
kin  call  on  her  now.'  Marster  got  er  big 
six-shooter  in  his  han'  an'  he  start  ter  bus' 
out  er  dat  winder  an'  git  at  dat  nigger,  but 
Miss  Ma'y  say  he  musn't  go,  'ca'se  he  cain't 
do  no  good,  an'  he  be  kilt  an'  not  perteck  'em, 
eider.  He  ain't  skeered  er  nuttin'  on  de 
yearth,  but  he  cain't  do  no  good  'g'inst  so 
many.  None  er  dem  ladies  ain'  scream  er 
cry,  'ca'se  dey  ain'  been  dat  kin'.  Miss  Ma'y 
an'  Miss  Jean  an'  Miss  Lucy  an'  Hester  done 
drap  on  dey  knees  an'  pray  ter  de  good  Lawd 
ter  'liver  'em  f 'um  de  gre't  danger. 

"  Dem  udder  niggers  an'  de  sujjunt  done 
gone  'roun'  de  house  an'  put  er  ladder  up,  an' 
one  er  dem  niggers  shin  up  it  lak  a  squ'r'l,  an' 
'gin  ter  fling  down  silber  an'  silk  dresses  an' 
julery  f'um  whar  dat  nigger-trader  nigger 
know  dey  was. 

"  Ez  dey  was  flung  down,  dat  sujjunt  an' 
dem  niggers  put  de  things  in  bags  twell  dey 
soon  had  mos'  a  waggin  load.  Den  de  sujjunt 
say  when  de  corp'al  call  on  his  lady  fr'en' 
erwhile  dey'll  jes'  drap  a  little  fiah  under  de 
house,  an'  see  de  'ristercrats  get  out.  Den  one 
er  dem  niggers  say,  '  I  gwine  drap  a  little  fiah 
right  now.' 

"  Now,  I  gotter  go  back  a  li'l'  ter  get  ev'y- 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN     195 

thin'  straight.  You  see,  one  er  de  sills  w'ut 
de  flo'  in  de  big  hall  'twix'  de  settin'-room  an' 
de  dinin'-room  res'  on,  done  rot  out,  an'  Mar- 
ster  was  er  habin'  his  carpenter  ter  put  in  er 
new  sill,  so  de  flo'  was  tuk  up  an'  we  had  ter 
go  'cross  de  openin'  on  er  plank,  an'  dar  was 
er  lot  er  chips  an'  shavin's  an'  sich-like  fell  on 
de  groun'  un'er  de  hall,  an'  hope  I  may  die  ef 
one  er  dem  niggers — dat  yaller  nigger  w'ut 
Marster  bo't,  ain'  fling  some  paper  an'  shav- 
in's an'  de  like  right  un'er  de  hall,  an'  de  fire 
riz  in  er  hurry;  but  Hester  grab  a  bucket  er 
water  an'  fling  it  on  de  fiah,  an'  dat  kinder 
squinch  it  er  liT;  but  it  keep  er  bu'nin',  an'  it 
look  lak  it  gwine  ter  tek  de  house ;  but  Hester 
an'  Marster  fling  mo'  water  on  it.  Jes'  den 
dat  liT  yaller  nigger  so'ger  'gin  ter  fa'ly  dance 
an'  say,  '  Oh,  you  see  I  done  come,  an'  yer 
fine  young  lady  got  ter  git  outen  dar  now,  an' 
I  gwine  put  my  ahm  'roun'  her,'  an'  he  snap 
his  finger  in  my  face.  Den,  boss,  I  riz  up. 
I  was  younger  dan  I  is  now,  an'  was  er  man 
'mongst  men — an'  I  jes'  tap  him  a  jolt  on  de 
p'int  er  de  jaw  an'  he  fall  lak  er  beef;  an'  you 
know  w'ut  I  done  den?  " 

"  I  certainly  have  no  idea,"  said  Mr.  Stand- 
wick. 

"  Well,  sah,  I  jes'  cotch  him  by  de  hin'  laig 
an'  flung  him  thu'  de  hall  doah,  w'ut  open  on 
de  gall'ry  inter  dat  fiah  un'er  de  hall.  He 
holler  an'  scratch  an'  scatter  fiah  lak  cats  er 
fightin',  an'  den  dat  udder  yaller  nigger  come 


i96    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

er  runnin'  an'  seed  dat  so'ger  nigger  rollin' 
out,  an'  he  say,  '  Who  done  dat?  '  an'  'fo'  I  kin 
answer  Marster  start  outen  de  winder  on  ter 
de  gall'ry,  an'  de  cock-eyed  scoun'el  start 
to'rds  Marster  an'  say,  '  OF  man,  I  glad  you 
open  de  winders;  I  gwine  step  in  an'  see  dem 
white  wimmins  w'ut  so  proud.' 

"  Boss,  you  orter  seed  Marster.  He 
stretch  er  foot,  an'  his  eyes  flash,  an'  he  start 
ter  shoot,  an'  jes'  den  Ned  tuk  a  han'  in  de 
'formance.  I  ain'  had  no  gun,  but  I  had  er 
ax,  an'  dat  nigger  never  retch  Marster,  'ca'se 
I  tap  him  on  de  burr  er  de  yeer  wid  de  butt 
een'  er  de  ax  an'  down  he  went;  an'  I  tossed 
him  over  in  de  coals  an'  de  cinders  an'  kindlin' 
whar  his  side-podner  wen'  fus'. 

"  'Member,  boss,  dat  all  dis  time  dat  white 
sujjunt  an'  dem  th'ee  niggers  was  down  'hin' 
de  house  Vidin'  de  plun'er,  an'  dey  was  'lowin' 
dat  cock-eyed  yaller  nigger  a  sheer.  Wen  dey 
heered  de  fiah  poppin'  an'  seed  de  smoke  an' 
seed  Marster  an'  Hester  fightin'  de  fiah,  dat 
low-down  sujjunt  say,  '  Let  'er  bu'n ;  we  got 
de  stuff.'  An'  jes'  den  de  s'prisin'es'  thing 
dat  ebber  I  has  done  see  sence  I  was  bo'n 
happen. 

"  Up  de  road  I  hear  hosses  er  runnin', 
bookety-book,  clipperty-clip,  lipperty-lip,  right 
to'rds  dis  house,  an'  fus'  thing  you  know,  er 
Feddul  cap'n  an'  ten  Feddul  so'gers  was  er 
comin'  lak  der  win'.  De  cap'n  was  in  de 
lead,  an'  w'en  he  got  tolerbul  close  I  look  at 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN     197 

him,  an'  I  like  ter  drap,  an'  I  holler,  '  Good 
Gawd !  Is  Marse  Arthur  done  tu'n  Yankee  ?  ' 
Fur  it  sho'  mus'  be  him,  er  his  twin,  er  his 
ghos'. 

"  He  rid  right  up  ter  de  steps  wid  his  men, 
an'  w'en  he  see  de  fiah  he  call  ter  his  mens, 
'  We  mus'  put  out  dat  fiah ! '  an'  he  an'  his 
mens  jump  right  down  an'  stomp  out  de  fiah 
an'  scatter  de  trash  an'  bu'nin'  planks,  an'  dey 
soon  had  de  fiah  put  out. 

"  Den  de  cap'n  say  to  Marster,  *  Is  yo' 
house  been  rob'?  '  An'  Marster  say  he  don' 
know.  Den  I  say,  *  Yes,  sah ;  de  white  suj- 
junt  an'  th'ee  niggers  done  rob  it,  an'  dey  say 
dey  gwine  bu'n  it.  Er  yaller  nigger  w'ut  use' 
ter  b'long  ter  Marster  sot  it  erfiah  in  dar  whar 
you  jes'  put  it  out.' 

"  Den  de  cap'n  say,  '  Gunnel  Marshall,  you 
an'  de  ladies  an'  yo'  surbunts  jes'  stay  in  de 
house  an'  you'll  be  safe.  I'll  put  a  guard 
'roun'  it.'  Den  Marster  thank  de  cap'n  an' 
Vite  him  ter  one  er  de  rooms  in  de  wing  er 
de  house  ter  wash  his  han's,  an'  while  he  was 
gone,  dat  sujjunt  came  er  bouncin'  up  de  back 
steps  an'  open  de  back  doah  ob  de  hall  an' 
holler,  '  Who  put  out  dat  fiah  ?  '  De  cap'n's 
newtenant  was  dar,  an'  he  say,  '  I  an'  my  men 
put  it  out.'  Den  de  sujjunt  say,  '  I  had  it 
sot  erfiah,  an'  you  ain'  got  nuttin'  't  all  ter 
do  wid  it.  You  don'  b'long  ter  my  corn- 
man'.  I  al'ays  set  rebbul  houses  erfiah,  an' 
you  better  do  de  same.' 


i98    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

"  De  newtenant  say,  '  I  let  you  know  I'm 
a  gen'man,  an'  I  don'  bu'n  houses  er  mek  war 
on  ladies  an'  old  gen'mens.'  Den  de  suj- 
junt  say,  '  I'm  a  gen'man  too,  an'  I  bu'ns  'em 
all.'  Den  de  newtenant  say  slow  an'  plain, 
'  You  is  a  damn  guttersnipe  an'  'senyerary 
an'  coward!  An'  I  tell  you  now  ef  you  set 
fiah  to  dis  house  hit'll  be  de  las'  house  you 
ebber  gwine  set  erfiah,  an'  de  nex'  fiah  you  an' 
dem  niggers  see  will  be  hell-fiah ! '  But  de 
sujjunt  man  mus'  sho'ly  nab  b'liebe  de  new- 
tenant  was  er  bluffin',  'ca'se  I  hope  I  may  miss 
he'ben  ef  he  an'  dem  niggers  didn'  go  out 
dar  an'  stick  fiah  ter  de  hin'  part  er  de  house; 
but  'fo'  dey  do  it  de  cap'n  done  come  back 
an'  his  newtenant  tol'  him  w'ut  de  sujjunt 
say,  an'  de  cap'n  tell  de  newtenant  ter  tek  his 
men  an'  watch  dat  scoun'el. 

"  De  newtenant  tuk  his  men  an'  go  'roun' 
de  back  way,  an'  jes'  den  dat  sujjunt  an' 
dem  niggers  was  settin'  fiah  ter  de  house,  an' 
it  was  'mencin'  ter  bu'n,  an'  den  trubbel  br'ek 
loose. 

"  Quicker  'n  a  sheep  kin  shake  he  tail,  de 
guns  went  bang,  bang,  bang,  bang!  an',  boss, 
sho's  a  boss  got  a  tail,  dat  sujjunt  an'  dem 
th'ee  niggers  was  pile'  up  lak  hogs  'roun'  de 
hot  water  bar'l  in  hog-killin'  time,  an'  de 
cap'n's  men  run  an'  put  out  de  fiah. 

"  De  cap'n  run  'roun'  dar  w'en  he  heerd 
de  shootin',  an'  w'en  he  see  de  sujjunt  an'  de 
niggers  pile'  up,  an'  see  de  fiah,  he  ain'  ax 


NED:    NIGGER   AN*   GENTMAN     199 

no  queschun,  but  he  say,  '  Dey  won'  do  no 
mo'  robbin'  er  bu'nin'.' 

"  Den  de  white  so'gers  fin'  all  de  silber 
an'  julery  an'  han'  it  ter  de  cap'n,  an'  de  cap'n 
tuk  it,  an'  bow,  an'  say  he  proud  to  comman' 
gen'mans  w'ut  don'  bu'n  er  steal;  an'  den  he 
go  in  de  house  an'  lif'  his  cap  an'  s'lute  Mars- 
ter  an'  ax  him  ter  deliber  de  silber  an'  julery 
to  Miss  Ma'y  wid  his  comp'ments.  An'  den 
a  surpriziner  thing  happen  dan  de  'rival  er 
de  Feddul  cap'n  an'  his  mens. 

"Jes'  as  der  cap'n  an'  his  men  git  back 
'roun'  ter  de  front  er  de  house,  an'  on  de 
gall'ry  erg'in,  all  we-uns  heerd  mo'  hosses  run- 
nin',  bookety-book,  clipperty-clip,  lipperty-lip, 
comin'  f'um  de  udder  een'  er  de  road, 
an'  de  Feddul  cap'n  grab  dem  big  double- 
bar'l  telerscope  an'  look  down  dat  way  ter  see 
who  'twas  comin';  an'  quicker  'n  er  minnit  I 
seed  er  cap'n  in  de  lead,  an'  bless  Gawd !  who 
was  it  'ceptin'  Marse  Arthur  Stan'ick,  de 
cap'n  on  de  'Fed'rit  side. 

'  Wen  de  Feddul  so'gers  see  dem  w'ut  was 
comin'  was  'Fed'rit  so'gers,  dey  grab  dey  guns 
an'  pistils;  but  de  Feddul  cap'n  tell  'em  ter 
put  'em  down,  an'  den  w'en  dey  look  at  Marse 
Arthur  sorter  close,  dey  look  at  him,  an'  den 
at  dey  cap'n,  an'  den  at  Marse  Arthur  erg'in, 
an'  ob  all  de  s'prised  an'  'plexed  mens  you 
ebber  see,  dey  took  de  lead,  an'  dey  fergit 
erbout  de  'Fed'rit  so'gers  er  foll'in'  Marse 
Arthur, 


200    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

"  Wen  Marse  Arthur'  men  ride  up  an'  see 
Feddul  so'gers  dey  'pear  lak  dey  gwine  ter 
shoot;  but  jes'  den  Marster  say,  '  Gen'mens, 
dis  n'ut'al  groun','  I  b'liebe  dem  his  wu'ds." 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Standwick,  "  the  house 
of  a  mutual  friend  is  neutral  ground." 

"  W'ut  I  'lowed  was,  dey  gwine  '  'clar 
truce,'  ez  Marster  say,  er  '  play  quits,'  ez  I 
say,  long  ez  dey  be  on  Marster's  groun' ;  an' 
Marse  Arthur  moshun  ter  his  mens  ter  put 
dey  guns  an'  pistils  down. 

"  Marse  Arthur  jump  off  de  hoss  at  de 
foot  er  de  steps,  an'  he  had  on  er  Yankee 
obercoat,  an'  it  look  lak  dey  was  two  Yankee 
cap'ns;  but  he  flung  back  his  obercoat,  an'  I 
see  his  'Fed'rit  nuniform,  an'  I  say,  '  Howdy, 
Marse  Arthur?  'For'  Gawd,  I  b'liebe  dis 
good  Yankee  cap'n  is  your  own  deah  brud- 
der.'  An'  den  he  stop  an'  look  at  de  Yankee 
cap'n,  an'  dey  stan'  an'  look  an'  look  at  one 
'nudder,  but  ain'  say  na'y  word,  but  dey  eyes 
'gin  ter  git  wet,  an'  dey  wink  um  fas';  den 
all  ob  a  suddent  dey  flung  dey  ahms  'roun' 
one  'nudder,  an'  sich  er  cryin'  an'  er  huggin', 
an'  er  huggin'  an'  er  cryin',  I  nebber  seed 
befo'  sence  I  was  bo'n;  an'  Marster  he  cry, 
an'  dem  fightin'  so'gers  cry,  an'  de  Feddul 
an'  de  'Fed'rit  so'gers  fergit  dey  be  enner- 
mies  an'  be  fightin'  ebb'ry  day,  an'  dey  flung 
up  dey  caps  an'  holler,  an'  laff  an'  sorter  cry, 
an'  sich  er  time  I  nebber  see. 

"  Den  Cap'n  Chawles  say,  c  Gunnel  Mar- 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    201 

shall,  I  am  a  Feddul  so'ger,  but  I  hope  I  am 
a  gen'man.  You  an'  yo'  family  is  safe;  I 
will  le'be  a  guard  'roun'  yo'  house.'  Den 
Cap'n  Arthur  say,  '  Gunnel,  dis  is  my  brud- 
der;  an'  dough  we  be  fightin'  on  diff'unt  sides, 
he's  a  gen'man.'  Den  Marster  say,  '  So  long 
ez  you  is  in  dis  house,  er  in  dis  ya'd,  you  an' 
yo'  mens  mus'  'member  dis  is  n'ut'al  groun', 
an'  atter  dis,  ef  you  brudders  meet  heah,  it 
mus'  be  jes'  lak  you  was  un'er  a  flag  er  truce,' 
I  b'liebe  dem's  de  wu'ds  he  say." 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Standwick,  "  that  is  most 
likely  so.  When  soldiers  meet  under  a  flag 
of  truce  they  are  friendly  and  peaceful  as  if 
they  had  never  fallen  out." 

"  Well,  dat's  de  way  de  two  cap'ns  meet 
seberal  times  atterwa'ds  right  on  dis  place. 
Atter  de  two  cap'ns  let  one  nudder  loose, 
Cap'n  Arthur  ax  Marster  whar  Miss  Ma'y 
an'  Miss  Lucy  was,  an  Marster  say,  '  Come 
heah,  an'  I  show  you,'  an'  Marster  run  de 
big  winder  up,  an'  Cap'n  Arthur  see  Miss 
Ma'y,  an'  nex'  ter  her  Miss  Lucy,  an' 
nex'  ter  her  Miss  Jean,  an'  den  de  las'  was 
Hester;  an'  Cap'n  Arthur  jes'  jump  right  in, 
an'  'fo'  all  de  company,  cotch  up  Miss  Lucy 
an'  kiss  her  twell  she  blush  red  mos'  lak  er 
strawb'ry,  an'  den  he  tek  Miss  Ma'y  in  his 
ahms,  an'  say  thank  Gawd,  dey's  all  safe. 

"  An  den  de  Feddul  cap'n  he  come  in  an' 
'proach  sorter  slow  an'  onsart'in-lak,  ez  ef 
he  am'  sho'  he  be  welcome;  an'  he  HP  his  hat 


202    NED:    NIGGER   AN1    GENT'MAN 

an'  bow  ve'y  perlite,  an'  say  he  ve'y  glad  he 
hab  de  privilidge  er  perteckin'  'em,  an'  ob 
sabin'  de  house;  an'  den  he  offer  his  ahm  ter 
Miss  Jean;  but  she  sorter  draw  back,  'ca'se 
she  ain'  nebber  tetch  de  han'  ob  a  Yankee  so'- 
ger;  but  Marster  look  at  her  sorter  'proach- 
ful-lak,  and  she  r'aley  wan'  ter  git  her  han' 
on  dat  ahm,  an'  she  tuk  it,  an'  Cap'n  Arthur 
gib  Miss  Lucy  his  ahm,  an'  Miss  Ma'y  tek 
Marster's,  an'  dey  all  gin'  ter  march  out  to'rds 
de  gall'ry,  an'  den  I  say,  '  Bein's  you  gwine  ter 
hab  er  persession,  an'  dar's  ernudder  lady  in 
dar,  I  gwine  jine  in.'  So  I  steps  in  an'  bow 
lak  de  white  folks,  an'  gibs  Hester  mah  ahm, 
an'  march  out  behin',  steppin'  high,  an'  ev'y- 
body  buss'  out  laffin'  ez  we  come.  An'  dat's 
de  way  de  cap'n  sabe  de  house." 

"Well,"  said  Mr.  Standwick,  "that  was 
indeed  a  terrible  time;  but  I  am  inclined  to 
think  those  who  lost  their  lives  deserved  their 
fate.  I  am  curious  to  know  two  things :  how 
the  ladies  stood  seeing  dead  men  around,  and 
what  was  done  with  the  bodies?  " 

'  Well,  you  see,  boss,  dar  was  so  many  so'- 
gers  passin'  an'  so  many  big  guns  to  be  heerd, 
an'  so  much  shootin'  eroun'  de  neighborhood, 
dat  in  de  'citement  ob  de  fiah  de  ladies  ain' 
pay  no  tenshun  ter  de  shootin'  er  de  sujjunt 
an'  de  niggers,  an'  dey  ain'  nebber  see  de  daid 
carcasses  't  all,  'ca'se  we  put  'em  on  de  flo'  er 
de  kerridge-house." 

"  There's  another  thing  I  want  to  ask  be- 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    203 

fore  I  forget  it.  What  became  of  the  two 
men  you  tossed  in  the  fire?  " 

"  Now,  boss,  I  tell  you  fus'  'bout  dem  car- 
cusses;  but  I  gwine  ax  you,  w'ut  you  reckon 
Marster  done  wid  'em?  " 

"  Really,"  said  Mr.  Standwick,  "  I  could 
hardly  form  an  idea  what  a  man  would  do 
under  such  extraordinary  circumstances." 

"  Well,  I  tell  you  w'ut  I'd  er  done  ef  it 
had  b'en  lef  ter  me.  I'd  er  tuk  dem  four 
carcusses  an'  put  logs  on  'em,  an'  er  bu'nt  de 
las'  bone  un  'em  up,  an'  den  I'd  er  tuk  a  club 
an'  finish  dem  two  yaller  niggers,  an'  er  flung 
dey  carcusses  on  de  same  pile. 

"  I  mout  not  do  dat  now  ef  it  was  all  ter 
be  done  ober,  but  I  sw'ar  I  would  er  done  it 
den,  'ca'se  I  was  sho'  mad.  But  I  tell  you 
w'ut  Marster  done.  He  done  w'ut  na'y  man 
but  a  Chrischun  man  would  er  done.  He  tuk 
dem  niggers  an'  dat  sujjunt,  an'  he  tell  his 
carpenter  ter  mek  fo'  coffins,  an'  fix  all  de 
carcusses  decent-lak  an'  put  'em  keerf'ly  in 
de  coffin  an'  haul  ter  de  nigger  grabeyard 
in  his  hack  an'  two-hoss  waggins.  An'  hope 
I  may  see  dem  niggers  erg'in  ef  Marster 
ain'  stan'  dar  an'  read  ebber  so  much  Scripter 
outen  de  'Piskerpul  pra'rbook,  an'  den  he  tol' 
his  nigger  preacher,  who'd  rudder  preach  dan 
ter  eat,  dat  he  mus'  'ten'  ter  de  res'  er  de 
fun'al. 

"  Boss,  dat  nigger  was  sho'  happy  den,  an' 
him  an'  de  udder  niggers  had  de  gre'tes'  time 


204    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

you  ebber  heerd  of.  A  nigger  radder  go  to  er 
fun'al  'an  ter  go  fishin'.  Dey  al'ays  hez  er 
big  time  ef  dey  got  jes'  one  ter  put  in  de 
groun',  an'  w'en  dey  got  fo'  dey  counts  dat 
er  juberlee.  OP  Ab'um,  de  preacher,  he  hilt 
'em  in  pra'r  er  spell  fer  sho',  an'  you  mout  er 
heerd  him  two  mile;  an'  den  he  preach  twell 
mos'  night,  an'  den  all  de  niggers  sung : 

"  '  Hark  f'um  de  tomb  a  doneful  soun', 
Mine  years  atten'  de  cry.' 

"  Dey  boun'  fer  ter  sing  dat  chune  at  er 
nigger  fun'al,  'ca'se  er  nigger  don'  b'liebe  it's 
er  fun'al  'tall  'ceptin'  dey  do;  an'  think  de 
nigger  ghos'  gwine  come  back  ef  dey  don' 
sing  it. 

"  I  stan'  erwhile  an'  lis'en,  an'  I  say  ter 
mahse'f,  '  It's  all  right  fer  Marster  ter  read 
pra'rs  an'  fer  dat  nigger  ter  pray  twell  he 
sweat,  but  't  ain't  no  use,  'ca'se  dat  bunch  dey 
prayin'  ober  b'long  to  de  Debbil,  an'  he  gwine 
roas'  'em  in  hell  lak  I  roas'  er  'tater  in  de 
chimbley  cornder." 

"  Now,  Ned,  don't  say  that ;  you  don't  be- 
lieve anybody  is  actually  roasted  in  hell-fire 
sure  enough  ?  " 

'Yes,  sah;  I  do,  boss;  it's  'bleeged  ter  be 
so.  Dar  lakly  ain't  many  er  dat  kin',  but 
dey  boun'  ter  be  a  hell  fer  sich  a  gang  ez  dem 
niggers  was  er  puttin'  in  de  groun'. 

'  W'ut  you  gwine  ter  do  wid  er  lot  er  nig- 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN    205 

gers  an'  er  wuss  white  man,  w'ut  try  to  bu'n 
Marster's  house,  an'  'suit  my  Mistiss,  an  Miss 
Lucy,  an'  Miss  Jean,  an'  mos'  skeer  mah 
wife  to  def — de  onlies'  wife  I  ebber  is  had? 
Oh,  dar's  boun'  ter  be  er  hell  fer  dat  sort;  but 
I  sorter  hope  dey  git  outen  hell  atter  er  while. 
I  b'liebe  de  mussey  er  de  Lawd  hoi'  out  even 
fer  dem;  but  it  gwine  be  strain'  pow'ful. 

"  Now,  ez  ter  dem  two  yaller  niggers  I 
flung  in  de  fiah,  lemme  tell  you  somepin'. 
Dey  orter  wu'k  fer  Miss  Ma'y  long  ez  dey 
lib.  I  tell  de  Feddul  cap'n  'bout  'em,  an' 
he  say  he  gwine  sen'  'em  ter  de  camp  an'  dey'll 
be  'ten  ter  ve'y  quick;  but  dey  was  er  moanin' 
an'  er  groanin',  an'  Miss  Ma'y  heerd  'em,  an' 
stidder  lettin'  me  tek  Marster's  pistil  an'  'ten' 
ter  'em,  w'ut  mus'  she  do?  Hope  I  may  drap 
daid  dis  minnit,  ef  she  ain'  tek  Hester  an'  fix 
some  cotton  battin'  an'  sweet  ile  an'  lime  wa- 
tah,  an'  dressed  dem  yaller  whelps'  ahms  an' 
han's  whar  dey  b'en  bu'nt.  Den  she  ax  de 
cap'n  dat  he  don'  have  'em  shot. 

"  I  was  jes'  gwine  ter  ax  him  ter  hab  'em 
bof  shot  soon  he  git  outen  sight  er  de  house, 
but  Miss  Ma'y  make  me  shame  er  mahse'f, 
she  sich  er  Chrischun.  I  won'er  huccome 
Gawd  ain'  tek  Miss  Ma'y  ter  heaven  wid  de 
res'  er  de  anguls,  'ca'se  she  sho'  is  er  angul 
on  de  yearth." 


CHAPTER   XII 

AFTER  he  had  finished  his  recital  Ned  asked 
to  be  excused  so  he  could  make  another  trip 
to  see  how  "  dem  free  niggers  was  wu'kin'," 
but  before  he  left  he  saddled  Redbird  and 
hitched  her  to  the  rack,  and  said,  "  Boss,  ef 
you  lak  ter  tek  er  ride,  I  le'be  dis  snipshus 
little  mar'  fer  you.  I  sho'  you  done  fin'  she's 
a  saddle-nag  fer  true." 

"  Delightful !  One  of  the  finest  I  ever 
saw,  and  I  shall  enjoy  another  ride.  My  own 
horse  will  be  so  pampered  and  spoiled  he  will 
object  to  being  ridden  at  all,  I  fear.  You 
ought  to  have  brought  him  out." 

"  Oh,  no,  sah ;  Marster  always  lets  de  vis'- 
ter's  hoss  res'.  He's  er  gues'  in  de  stable,  lak 
you  is  in  de  big  house." 

"I  am  much  obliged;  certainly  hospitality 
has  reached  its  limit  when  it  extends  to  the 
stranger's  saddle-horse.  These  are  great 
people  you  live  with,  Ned." 

"  Now  you  talkin',  boss;  dey's  mah  peepul 
an'  I  'spec'  ter  lib  an'  die  wid  'em.  I  'spec' 
'gin'  you  gits  back  f'um  yer  ride,  Marster  an' 
Miss  Ma'y  '11  be  gittin'  back  f'um  town." 

Mr.  Standwick  rode  a  long  distance  in  a 
different  direction  from  that  taken  on  previous 
206 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    207 

rides,  and  on  every  side  he  saw  evidences  of 
devastation,  but  saw  also  proof  that  the  peo- 
ple were  bravely  struggling  to  rebuild  their 
homes  and  restore  their  waste  places. 

The  fields  were  white  with  cotton,  a  boun- 
tiful crop  of  corn  had  been  gathered,  and  such 
orchards  as  had  escaped  destruction  had 
borne  heavy  crops  of  fruit. 

At  many  points  where  it  was  evident  large 
residences  had  once  stood,  structures  evidently 
meant  to  be  temporary  had  been  erected,  and 
those  who  once  lived  in  mansions  were  living 
in  them. 

Mr.  Standwick  met  and  conversed  with 
men  of  evident  education  and  culture  who 
were  working  as  common  laborers,  yet  seemed 
cheerful  and  hopeful,  and  he  returned  to  meet 
Colonel  and  Mrs.  Marshall  on  their  return 
from  town,  deeply  impressed  with  what  he 
had  seen. 

After  supper  was  finished  and  they  were 
seated  in  the  sitting-room,  Mr.  Standwick 
said,  "  Ned  has  related  to  me  some  most  in- 
teresting incidents  to-day.  He  has  a  wonder- 
ful memory  and  deals  with  details  with  evi- 
dent accuracy.  And  as  you  have  told  me,  he 
was  truthful.  I  was  greatly  impressed  by 
his  recital  of  the  tragedy  which  followed  your 
interview  with  Captain  Alston,  as  told  by  him, 
and  the  tragic  incidents  which  accompanied 
the  attempt  to  burn  the  house  were  most  dra- 
matic." 


ao8    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

"  They  were,  indeed,"  said  Colonel  Mar- 
shall, with  a  smile,  "  and  to  me  who  was  one 
of  the  actors,  almost  too  dramatic;  but  really 
the  meeting  of  two  brothers,  one  an  officer 
in  the  Federal  and  the  other  in  the  Con- 
federate army,  under  such  circumstances,  es- 
pecially considering  the  relations  existing  be- 
tween them  and  two  of  the  ladies  present, 
was  both  dramatic  and  romantic,  and  full  of 
noble  sentiment.  There  were  some  facts 
which  perhaps  Ned  did  not  fully  explain  to 
you,  which  give  additional  and  profound  in- 
terest to  the  events  of  that  day." 

"  Mr.  Standwick,"  said  Mrs.  Marshall, 
"  if  you  and  Colonel  Marshall  will  excuse  me 
I  will  retire.  I  am  much  fatigued  and  a  re- 
cital of  the  events  of  that  awful  day  is  har- 
rowing. I  am  glad  to  know  that  the  day 
was  lightened  by  the  noble  conduct  of  two 
gallant  young  soldiers;  and  though  they  were 
arrayed  on  opposing  sides,  and  one  was  in 
the  ranks  of  the  North,  we  cherish  tenderly 
the  memories  of  both ;  and  it  may  be  that  the 
fact  that  they  bore  your  name,  or  so  nearly 
the  same  name  as  yours,  has  added  to  the 

fleasure  your  stay  as  our  guest  has  given  us. 
could  wish  you  no  higher  honor  than  that 
you  might  have  claimed  them  as  kindred." 

'  I  am  sure,"  replied  Mr.  Standwick,  "  I 
should  have  been  honored  by  such  relation- 
ship; but  unfortunately  I  have  no  sons,  and 
have  never  had.  It  may  have  been  that  they 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    209 

belonged  to  a  branch  of  the  family  who  have 
dropped  the  d  from  the  name,  and  since  I 
have  thought  more  on  the  subject  of  their 
identity  I  am  inclined  to  think  I  shall  be  able 
very  soon  to  tell  you  who  they  were." 

"  It  is  only  the  name  that  reminds  us  of 
you.  They  bore  no  facial  resemblance  to 
you  that  is  discernible.  If  it  should  prove 
that  they  were  bound  to  you  by  the  ties  of 
blood,  we  shall  be  glad.  Good  night." 

"  Yes,"  continued  Colonel  Marshall,  "  they 
were  gentlemen  and  heroes,  and  sealed  their 
devotion  to  their  convictions  with  their 
blood." 

"  Just  here,  Colonel,  permit  me  to  ask  the 
question  which  I  intimated  I  would  ask  when 
you  told  me  of  your  visit  to  Captain  Alston. 
Now  after  years  have  passed,  and  the  passions 
of  the  hour  have  subsided,  and  the  dead  are 
dust,  and  the  matter  can  be  weighed  calmly, 
what  do  you  think  of  the  action  of  Captain 
Alston?" 

Without  a  moment's  hesitation,  Colonel 
Marshall  replied,  "He  did  exactly  right;  he 
could  have  done  nothing  else." 

Mr.  Standwick  sat  for  a  considerable  time 
in  silent  thought,  surprised  and  perplexed. 
He  knew  that  the  man  who  had  so  responded 
to  his  question  was  an  educated,  cultured, 
Christian  gentleman;  a  peaceable,  law-abiding 
citizen;  a  man  who  lived  according  to  the 
loftiest  ideals,  and  who  was  respected  and  be- 


310    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

loved  by  all  who  knew  him;  yet  he,  with 
earnestness  and  unmistakable  sincerity,  had 
declared  without  qualification  that  his  neigh- 
bor, likewise  a  gentleman  of  the  highest  per- 
sonal character,  did  right  in  taking  the  life 
of  his  fellow-man,  under  circumstances  which 
would,  had  the  deed  been  committed  where 
the  guest  lived,  have  been  pronounced  murder 
by  law  and  public  sentiment. 

Colonel  Marshall  seemed  to  understand 
what  was  passing  through  the  mind  of  his 
guest,  and  slowly  repeated  his  reply,  "  He 
did  exactly  right;  there  was  no  other  recourse 
for  a  gentleman.  He  acted  in  obedience  to 
the  impulse  of  honor  and  pride,  and  his  act 
was  demanded  and  justified  by  the  '  unwritten 
law,'  the  only  law  applicable  to  the  situation." 

"  It  seems  to  me,"  said  Mr.  Standwick, 
"  that  he  might  not  only  have  vindicated  the 
character  of  his  daughter,  and  proved  the 
baseness  of  her  traducer,  but  have  punished 
him  in  a  manner  which  would  have  made  the 
punishment  to  him  most  severe ;  that  is,  finan- 
cially, by  bringing  action  against  him  for 
damages  for  slander.  I  am  sure  that  remedy 
would  have  been  invoked  where  I  live." 

"  And  I  am  sure,"  replied  Colonel  Mar- 
shall quickly,  and  with  some  warmth,  "  it  was 
not  invoked  here;  and  so  far  as  I  know,  has 
never  been  invoked  in  this  State.  The  docket 
of  no  court  in  this  State,  or  so  far  as  I  know, 
in  any  Southern  State,  has  ever  been  defiled 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    21 1 

by  a  suit  for  damages  as  a  salve  for  wounded 
honor.  No  man  who  would  bring  an  action 
to  recover  damages  of  the  traducer  or  de- 
baucher  of  his  daughter,  or  for  the  alienation 
of  his  wife's  affections,  would  ever  again  be 
recognized  or  socially  tolerated.  If  I  were 
at  the  bar  I  would  drive  from  my  office  a  man 
who  would  offer  me  such  a  case.  I  cannot 
contemplate  or  imagine  Angus  Alston  resort- 
ing to  such  a  course;  but  had  he  done  so,  I 
would  never  have  spoken  to  him  again  or  per- 
mitted him  to  cross  my  threshold." 

"  There  is  one  fact,"  said  Mr.  Standwick, 
"  which  cannot  be  gainsaid  or  denied,  and 
that  is,  the  act  of  Captain  Alston  was  a 
palpable  violation  of  the  law  as  set  forth  in 
the  statutes." 

"  That,"  said  Colonel  Marshall,  "  is  by  no 
means  certain,  because  the  statutes  do  not  at- 
tempt to  set  forth  every  combination  of  cir- 
cumstances which  justifies  homicide.  They 
only  prescribe  and  define  certain  causes,  which 
are  merely  illustrative  and  which  serve  to 
guide  in  determining  other  cases  resting  upon 
like  principles  of  reason  and  justice;  and  by 
analyzing,  it  is  not  impossible  to  evolve  justi- 
fication for  Alston's  act  out  of  the  statutes 
themselves,  and  upon  well  recognized  prece- 
dent. However,  I  shall  not  bore  you  by  such 
an  argument,  because  the  cold  letter  of  the 
written  law  has  nothing  to  do  with  such  a 
case. 


212    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

"  The  protection  of  the  honor  of  wife  and 
daughter  and  the  good  name  of  an  honorable 
family  is  a  duty  which  no  man  can  delegate, 
but  must  discharge  himself.  No  statute  has 
ever  been  drawn  to  meet  such  a  case ;  the  legal 
vernacular  is  not  adequate  to  the  framing  of 
such  a  law. 

"  Human  statutes  have  no  application  to 
that  which  involves  the  good  name  of  a 
woman,  or  the  honor  of  a  wife  or  family,  and 
over  such  a  case  no  human  tribunal  has  justly 
any  jurisdiction.  The  '  unwritten  law  '  only, 
to  which  every  gentleman  and  man  of  honor 
should  yield  obedience,  controls  in  such  a  case, 
and  it  is  supreme  here. 

'  Nowhere  on  earth  are  the  home  and  the 
family  so  carefully  guarded  and  shielded  as 
they  are  in  the  South,  and  nowhere  are  the 
standards  of  womanly  propriety  and  virtue  so 
high;  and  whatever  may  be  our  faults,  we  are 
not  grasping  or  sordid,  and  with  us  no  *  jing- 
ling of  the  guinea  helps  the  hurt  that  honor 
feels.' 

"  Brutus  won  deserved  immortality  by  slay- 
ing Tarquin,  the  defiler  of  his  wife.  Vir- 
ginius  killed  his  lovely  daughter  to  prevent 
her  debauchment  by  a  lecherous  libertine.  An- 
gus Alston  followed  a  noble  example,  you  see. 

"  Here  in  our  own  country,  a  member  of 
Congress,  who  has  since  won  fame  as  a 
soldier,  killed  the  trespasser  upon  his  family 
honor,  and  a  jury  of  his  peers  with  their  hands 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    213 

on  their  hearts  declared  him  not  guilty.  In 
that  case  one  of  the  great  lawyers  of  America 
defended  and  vindicated  the  application  of 
the  '  unwritten  law,'  upon  sound  legal  prin- 
ciple and  precedent  in  a  most  masterful 
speech;  but  we  have  even  higher  authority 
and  precedent. 

"  I  am  no  theologian  or  exegete,  nor  do  I 
claim  either  skill  or  accuracy  in  scriptural  in- 
terpretation, but  when  Shechem,  the  son  of 
Hamor,  the  Hivite,  defiled  Dinah,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob,  the  brothers  turned  deaf  ears  to 
every  proposition  of  marriage  and  pf  com- 
promise or  commercial  compensation  or  sat- 
isfaction. With  their  good  swords  they 
avenged  the  dishonor  of  their  sister,  and  when 
their  old  father  reproached  them  for  their 
haste  and  pointed  out  to  them  how  they  had 
put  him  and  all  his  people  in  peril,  their  reply, 
in  substance,  was,  '  Well,  suppose  that  is  true, 
and  they  do  slay  us  and  despoil  us  of  our 
possessions  and  wipe  out  our  tribe ;  yet  should 
the  prince  of  the  land  deal  with  our  sister  as 
with  an  harlot?  "  This  was  their  only  reply; 
they  had  slain  the  defiler  and  were  ready  to  ac- 
cept the  consequences.  And  I  find  that  same 
Jacob,  the  father  of  the  sons  who  slew  the 
debaucher  of  their  sister,  in  that  royal  line 
wherein  was  David,  from  whom  descended 
the  Son  of  God. 

"  No,  Mr.  Standwick,  there  was  no  other 
recourse.  Whether  my  interpretation  of  the 


2H    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

Scripture  be  correct  or  not,  there  were  many 
illustrious  precedents  for  the  act  of  Angus 
Alston.  You,  of  course,  can  take  the  cold, 
literal  statute  and  condemn  him ;  but  the  letter 
killeth  while  the  spirit  giveth  life,  and  the 
spirit  of  the  law,  as  it  is  interpreted  instinc- 
tively by  honorable  men  who  cherish  those 
feelings  of  pride  which  are  inseparable  from 
the  character  of  every  gentleman,  not  only 
justifies,  but  commends  his  action.  The 
slanderer  of  a  pure  and  innocent  woman  is  a 
foe  to  universal  womanhood  and  to  organized 
society,  and  to  slay  him  is  as  justifiable  as  is 
the  slaying  of  a  rabid  dog. 

"  But  to  return  to  our  story  about  the  Stan- 
wick  brothers.  Arthur  Stanwick,  directly 
after  his  graduation,  came  South,  and  re- 
sponded to  my  advertisement  for  a  tutor  for 
my  children.  When  he  came  to  my  house  he 
seemed  so  youthful,  and  really  he  was  only  a 
few  years  the  senior  of  my  eldest,  I  hesitated 
to  engage  him;  but  his  good  manners  and  his 
manifestly  thorough  education  led  me  to  ac- 
cept him  and  I  afterward  rejoiced  that  I  did. 
His  services  proved  eminently  satisfactory, 
and  the  Massachusetts  Yankee,  as  we  laugh- 
ingly called  him, — he  said  he  was  from  Mass- 
achusetts,— became  rapidly  southernized. 

"  He  intimated  rather  than  directly  said, 
that  his  father  was  greatly  prejudiced  against 
the  South,  and  southern  people,  and  was 
especially  extreme  in  his  views  concerning  the 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    215 

condition  of  the  negro,  not  only  in  relation  to 
his  being  held  in  slavery,  but  to  the  denial  to 
him  of  equality  upon  his  merits,  regardless  of 
his  color;  and  Arthur  frequently  remarked 
that  he  felt  sure  that  if  his  father  could  live 
awhile  in  the  South,  as  he  had  done,  his  views 
would  be  revolutionized. 

"  Never  once  did  he  manifest  the  slightest 
inclination  to  recognize  or  treat  the  negro  as  a 
social  equal;  indeed,  he  became  as  intense  in 
his  opposition  to  that  impossible  condition  as 
were  and  are  we  natives  to  the  manner  born, 
but  he  was  invariably  kind  and  considerate  in 
his  treatment  of  them;  and  Ned  and  Hester 
and  Dinah,  the  cook,  and  indeed  every  negro 
who  came  in  contact  with  him,  were  devoted 
to  him. 

"  I  concluded  from  the  general  tone  and 
tenor  of  his  conversation  that  his  father 
strongly  objected  to  his  coming  South,  but 
that  he  insisted,  assigning  as  a  reason  that  it 
was  necessary  to  seek  a  milder  and  more  genial 
climate;  and  I  inferred  that  his  action  some- 
what estranged  his  father,  though  the  son 
never  referred  to  him  but  in  terms  of  deep 
affection  and  profound  respect. 

"  He  read  law  while  he  lived  with  us,  and 
something  like  two  years  before  the  State 
seceded,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  moved 
to  the  county-seat  and  opened  his  office,  but 
always  referred  to  this  as  his  '  home.' 

"  He  was  a  young  man  of  engaging  man- 


216    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

ners,  and  of  exceptionally  brilliant  intellect, 
and  was  endowed  with  that  '  divine  afflatus  ' 
which  is  as  distinctly  the  gift  of  the  orator 
as  of  the  poet,  and  was  a  most  eloquent  and 
persuasive  speaker,  speaking  with  that  fervor 
and  fire  which  seems  to  be  specially  charac- 
teristic of  southern  speakers.  Unlike  most 
young  lawyers,  he  served  no  apprenticeship, 
went  through  no  '  starvation  period,'  but 
stepped  in  a  few  months  to  a  high  position 
at  the  bar. 

"  When  Mr.  Lincoln  issued  his  first  call  for 
troops,  Arthur  came  out  here  at  once,  and  as 
soon  as  the  usual  greeting  was  over,  he  said, 
*  Colonel,  the  die  is  cast.  War  is  inevitable 
between  the  North  and  South,  and  I  must  go.' 
I  inferred  from  the  tone  in  which  he  spoke 
that  he  meant  that  he  was  going  back  to  the 
North,  and  said,  '  Well,  Arthur,' — for  so  he 
insisted  from  the  first  I  should  call  him, — { I 
cannot  blame  you.  You  were  born  in  the 
North  and  reared  to  manhood  there,  amid 
environment  and  influences  and  under  train- 
ing in  political  thought,  the  effects  of  which  a 
few  years'  residence  in  the  South  cannot  be 
expected  to  overcome.  So  when  you  leave, 
you  will  carry  with  you  our  respect,  affection, 
and  best  wishes.' 

"  I  shall  never  forget  the  expression  on  his 
face  when  I  had  finished  speaking.  '  Why, 
Colonel,  you  astound  me!  Do  you  really 
misunderstand  me?  This  has  been  for  five 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    217 

years  my  home,  and  is,  I  feel,  yet,  my  home, 
and  the  South  is  my  adopted  land.  I  have 
studied  the  Constitution  and  the  history  of  its 
formation,  and  the  question  of  the  rights  of 
the  States,  and  I  believe  as  strongly  as  you 
do  in  the  rights  of  the  Southern  States  to 
withdraw  from  the  Union,  and  I  know  it  is 
the  duty  of  her  people  to  resist  invasion,  and 
I  am  going  to  stand  with  them.  A  cavalry 
company  has  been  organized  in  town,  and  I 
am  proud  to  say  I  have  been  elected  captain 
and  have  accepted ' ;  and  he  drew  himself 
to  his  full  height,  looking  every  inch  the 
gentleman  that  he  was,  and  the  soldier  he 
proved  to  be. 

"  I  took  the  young  fellow  in  my  arms,  and! 
said,  *  God  bless  you,  Arthur  I '  and  I  suspect 
a  tear  dropped  on  his  raven  locks. 

"  He  then  said,  '  Colonel,  you  know  the 
relations  existing  between  Miss  Lucy  and  my- 
self. I  have  loved  her  from  the  time  I  knew 
her  first,  and  have  made  no  secret  of  my  affec- 
tion; but  I  cannot  ask  her  to  be  my  wife  until 
the  war  is  over.  But  if  I  survive  it  and  bear 
myself  as  becomes  a  southern  soldier,  and  she 
remains  of  the  same  mind,  you  will,  I  trust, 
not  withhold  your  consent  to  our  marriage.' 

'  I  will  not,  my  boy,'  I  said,  '  and  God 
grant  you  may  return  as  victor,  and  a  general, 
and  in  all  the  vigor  of  your  splendid  manhood.' 

'  I  thank  you  sincerely,  Colonel ;  and  you 
do  not  know  how  happy  I  feel  that  there  is 


3i 8    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

no  conflict  between  my  love  and  my  conviction 
of  duty.  I  would  freely  give  my  life  for  your 
daughter  were  it  necessary,  yet  if  I  felt  con- 
strained by  conscientious  convictions  to  es- 
pouse the  Union  cause,  I  should  do  so,  even  at 
the  price  of  the  loss  of  her  love  and  her. 

"  '  That  you  would  do  so,  Arthur,  I  firmly 
believe,'  I  said,  '  and  the  fact  of  my  belief 
in  the  integrity  of  your  purpose  and  the  un- 
selfishness of  your  action,  but  increases  my 
respect  and  affection  for  you.' 

He  sat  in  silence  for  some  time,  and  then 
said,  slowly  and  with  evident  feeling, '  Colonel, 
you  know  I  have  a  twin  brother  in  the  North. 
He  opposed  my  coming  South  and  would  then 
not  himself  leave  father,  though  he  has  since 
gone  to  the  Northwest  to  make  his  home. 
Though  we  have  long  been  separated,  my  af- 
fection for  him  has  never  abated,  and  it  was 
my  purpose  to  soon  visit  him  and  my  father. 
He  is  high  spirited,  sympathizes  strongly  with 
the  views  of  our  father,  and  being  a  young 
man  of  pronounced  convictions,  I  have  but 
little  doubt  that  he  will  enlist  on  the  northern 
side,  and  possibly  we  may  meet  in  battle.  If 
we  should,  I  trust  Heaven  will  so  shape  events 
that  we  will  not  be  brought  into  personal  con- 
flict, for  I  had  far  rather  be  killed  than  to 
kill  my  brother.' 

"  He  proved  the  soldier  I  expected  him  to 
be.  He  had  an  independent  command  and 
was  bold  and  daring,  yet  tactful  and  discreet, 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    219 

and  his  men  idolized  him  and  followed  his 
leadership  with  unquestioning  devotion,  and 
when  he  and  his  brother  met  on  the  gallery 
of  this  house  and  stood  linked  in  each  other's 
arms  and  sobbing  like  children,  Federal  and 
Confederate  soldiers  alike  lifted  their  hats 
and  shouted,  while  tears  coursed  down  their 
rugged  cheeks,  cheeks  that  had  never  blanched 
with  fear  amid  the  deadliest  fighting. 

"  Shortly  after  that,  Captain  Charles  inter- 
cepted another  squad  of  marauding  negroes 
bent  on  burning  this  house.  Only  their  pro- 
testations of  innocence,  which  were  all  lies, 
saved  them  from  the  fate  which  the  four  met 
on  the  previous  occasion.  After  he  had 
driven  the  villains  away  under  threat  of  in- 
stant death,  he  entered  the  house,  and  assured 
the  ladies — I  chanced  to  be  absent — that  he 
would  send  a  guard  at  once  if  they  desired  him 
to  do  so. 

"  Dinner  had  just  been  announced  and 
Mrs.  Marshall  invited  him  to  dine.  He 
frankly  said,  '  Mrs.  Marshall,  I  know  a 
Federal  soldier  has  never  been  seated  at  your 
table,  and  I  fear  you  have  felt  constrained  to 
invite  me  by  reason  of  the  peculiar  circum- 
stances under  which  we  meet,  and  I  cannot 
take  advantage  of  the  position  in  which  I  find 
myself.  I  know  that  not  a  few  wearing  this 
uniform,  which  in  my  eyes  is  the  badge  of 
honor,  have  forced  themselves  rudely  to  the 
tables  of  many  of  your  neighbors,  but  before 


220    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

I  would  do  so  I  would  starve.  I  am  deeply 
grateful  for  your  courtesy,  but  trust  you  will 
excuse  me.' 

" '  Captain  Stanwick,'  Mrs.  Marshall 
replied,  no  circumstances  can  justify  a  viola- 
tion of  the  customs  and  traditions  of  genera- 
tions. I  invite  you  to  become  my  guest  in 
obedience  both  to  the  imperative  obligations 
of  hospitality  and  of  gratitude,  and  further- 
more, for  the  sake  of  your  brother.'  The 
young  man  yielded,  and  for  the  first  time  a 
Federal  soldier  in  Federal  uniform  sat  at  my 
table  with  my  wife  and  daughter,  and  the 
daughter  of  my  friend,  Captain  Alston. 

4  Thrice  had  he  come  to  the  rescue  of  my 
daughter  and  Miss  Alston,  and  had  saved  my 
house  from  burning,  and  my  wife  and  daugh- 
ter and  their  friend  from  God  only  knows 
what  horrible  fate ;  and  had  I  been  at  home  I 
should  have  been  proud  to  welcome  him  to 
my  house,  because  he  was  a  brave,  chivalrous 
gentleman,  who  neither  burnt  houses  nor  per- 
mitted them  to  be  burnt,  nor  waged  war  on 
non-combatants. 

'*  I  do  not  believe  there  was  ever  any  en- 
gagement in  the  full  sense  of  the  term  between 
Captain  Charles  Stanwick  and  Miss  Alston, 
— or  Jean,  as  I  called  her, — nor,  indeed,  do 
I  know  in  fact  that  she  ever  acknowledged  or 
confessed  for  him  other  feeling  than  that  of 
admiration  and  gratitude;  but  that  she  loved 
him  with  all  the  fervor  of  her  affectionate, 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    221 

frank,  honest  nature,  I  think  there  is  no 
doubt. 

"  You  understand,  Mr.  Standwick,  that  the 
prejudice  against  Federal  soldiers  was  most 
intense  on  the  part  of  the  women  of  the 
South.  They  seemed  to  resent  the  cruelty  and 
injustice  of  the  invasion  and  devastation  even 
more  bitterly  than  the  men,  because  in  fact 
they  were,  and  are,  the  greatest  and  most 
direct  sufferers  by  reason  of  the  war,  and  it 
would  have  taken  a  young  woman  of  extraor- 
dinary moral  courage  to  confess  her  love,  or 
admit  she  had  plighted  her  vows  to  a  Federal 
soldier;  yet  that  her  heart's  promptings  were 
in  that  direction,  I  think  is  certain. 

"  Love  recognizes  no  barriers.  It  laughs 
at  geographical  and  political  lines.  It  takes 
no  heed  of  fightings,  and  as  amazing  as  it 
may  sound  to  you,  and  it  certainly  astounded 
us,  the  chivalry  and  courage  and  consideration 
and  knightly  bearing  of  Charles  Stanwick 
commanded  the  admiration  and  compelled  the 
love  of  the  daughter  of  as  gallant  and  de- 
voted a  Confederate  captain  as  ever  flashed  a 
sword. 

"  I  do  not  believe  she  ever  admitted  to  her 
father  the  feeling  she  had  for  Captain  Stan- 
wick,  but  the  son  of  the  Puritan  won  the  heart 
of  the  daughter  of  the  Cavalier. 

"  Arthur  bore  himself  as  I  knew  he  would; 
but  most  fortunately,  he  and  his  brother  never 
met  in  battle  until  after  they  met  here,  nor,  as 


222    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

I  learned,  did  either  know  positively  that  the 
other  was  in  the  army  until  they  met  here 
under  the  extraordinary  conditions  of  which 
you  have  heard. 

"  That  day,  by  mutual  consent,  and  moved 
by  the  common  and  noble  purpose  to  prevent 
robbery,  arson,  and  God  only  knows  what 
other  fearful  outrage,  truce  was  for  the  time 
being  declared,  and  several  times  later  the  two 
brothers  met  at  this  house  or  came  separately, 
always  coming  unaccompanied;  and  by  mutual 
consent,  this  was  neutral  ground. 

"  The  last  time  I  saw  the  two  brothers  it 
was  under  totally  different  and  most  distress- 
ing circumstances.  I  heard  of  a  sharp  and 
bloody  engagement  some  distance  south  of 
this,  between  the  advance  guard  of  the  ad- 
vancing army  and  the  rear  guard  of  the  re- 
treating army,  and  we  heard  that  Arthur's 
command  was  engaged.  Taking  my  ambu- 
lance or  hack,  equipped  with  bandages, 
mattresses  and  food,  Ned  and  I  drove  to  the 
scene  of  the  battle.  When  I  reached  the 
field,  the  men  of  the  two  companies,  under  a 
flag  of  truce,  were  burying  the  dead  and  car- 
ing for  the  wounded.  I  hoped  both  of  the 
young  captains  had  escaped  unharmed  and 
that  my  search  would  prove  it  so,  but  I  sent 
Ned  along  the  line  of  the  Federal  wounded, 
while  I  went  where  most  of  the  fallen  ones 
appeared  to  be  our  men. 

*  I  had  not  proceeded  far  before  I  recog- 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    223 

nized  the  voice  of  Arthur  calling  me  as  I 
passed  near  him.  He  was  resting  against  a 
tree,  desperately  wounded,  and  the  pallor  of 
death  was  on  his  face.  As  I  bent  over  him, 
he  said,  '  Colonel,  I  have  not  long  to  live. 
Where  I  am  was  the  front  of  the  fighting. 
Tell  Lucy  I  loved  her  to  the  last,  and  believe 
we  will  meet  again  where  we  shall  never  part. 
Tell  her  the  thought  of  her  lingered  last  on 
my  mind  and  her  picture  rests  over  my  heart. 
Now,  Colonel,  I  believe  my  brother  led  a 
company  on  the  other  side.  Each  of  us  was 
on  the  right  of  his  command  and  did  not  meet 
directly,  but  I  feel  sure  I  saw  him  a  long 
distance  away  before  the  fighting  was  hottest. 
You  will  do  your  dying  friend,  your  almost 
son,  a  favor  if  you  will  find  him,  if  he  is  alive, 
and  bring  him  to  me,  or  carry  me  to  where 
he  is." 

"  I  said  I  would  find  him,  and  I  started, 
but  met  Ned  almost  immediately.  Ned  said 
that  he  had  found  Captain  Charles  badly 
wounded,  and  he  wanted  to  see  his  brother, 
and  that  he  had  made  the  identical  request  of 
Ned  that  Arthur  made  of  me.  I  directed  Ned 
to  hurry  up  the  ambulance,  and  Arthur  said, 
'  Carry  me  to  him ;  I  will  live  till  I  see  him.' 
We  laid  him  tenderly  in  the  ambulance  and 
drove  to  where  his  brother  was  lying.  He 
said,  '  Take  me  out  and  lay  me  beside  him.' 
We  did  so.  The  pale  faces  of  both  lighted 
with  a  faint  smile,  and  as  we  laid  Arthur 


224    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

close  by  his  brother,  he  placed  one  of  his 
hands  in  that  of  Charles's,  and  motioned  me 
to  lift  his  brother's  head  that  he  might  put 
his  arm  around  his  neck. 

"  *  Colonel  Marshall,'  said  Charles,  '  we 
will  not  be  here  long.  I  did  my  duty  as  I 
saw  it.  Please  tell  her,  you  know  who,  that 
I  loved  her  till  death  came,  and  the  thought 
that  she  loved  me  dwelt  last  in  my  memory 
and  lighted  my  pathway  to  the  grave.' 

"'Tell  Lucy,'  said  Arthur,  'that  in  the 
bloodiest  fighting  my  thoughts  were  upon  her, 
and  that  her  picture  stained  with  the  life- 
blood  that  I  gave  for  her  and  the  South  will 
be  buried  with  me.' 

"  '  Good-by,  Colonel ;  good-by,  Ned,'  said 
Charles.  '  It  is  growing  dark.  Lie  closer, 
brother,'  and  Arthur  pressed  his  cheek  against 
that  of  his  brother,  and  both  looked  upward 
to  the  blue  sky  which  arched  that  field  of 
blood,  and  then  looked  at  me,  and  I  knelt 
there  by  the  side  of  the  two  dying  heroes  and 
lifted  my  voice  in  prayer  for  their  parting 
souls,  and  as  I  ceased  to  pray  a  quiver  passed 
through  the  frames  of  both,  their  eyelids 
dropped,  and  two  more  knightly  spirits  passed 
up  to  God. 

"  I  brought  them  both  home  and  placed 
them  in  the  same  coffin  in  my  parlor,  and  with 
the  solemn  and  impressive  ceremonies  of  the 
church,  we  laid  them  to  rest  in  my  family 
burying-ground,  close  by  where  my  sons  and 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    225 

Tom  sleep.  You  can  almost  see  the  spot 
from  this  end  window  by  the  glorious  light  of 
this  autumn  moon." 

Mr.  Standwick  stepped  to  the  window  and 
stood  in  silence  for  several  minutes  looking 
out  toward  the  resting-place  of  the  victims  of 
fratricidal  war,  and  Colonel  Marshall,  seeing 
that  his  guest  was  deeply  moved,  suggested 
that  it  was  perhaps  time  to  retire.  Mr. 
Standwick  bowed  his  assent  and  bade  his  host 
good  night. 


CHAPTER    XIII 

THE  next  morning  was  Sunday,  and  Mr. 
Standwick  expressed  the  intention  of  leaving, 
but  Colonel  Marshall  objected. 

"  No,  you  must  not  go  to-day.  Ned  will 
tell  you  that  if  you  do  you  are  bound  to  have 
bad  luck;  then  we  want  you  to  drive  with  us 
to  town  to  attend  church  and  see  and  hear  the 
saintly  man  of  God  from  whose  hands  the  two 
young  captains,  whom  I  cannot  but  feel  must 
have  been  in  some  way  related  to  you,  took 
their  last  communion.  If  you  do  not  go  with 
us,  you  will  deprive  Ned  of  the  inexpressible 
pleasure  of  driving  you  with  his  mistress  and 
myself  to  church,  he  occupying  the  driver's 
seat  in  his  Sunday  rig,  with  Hester  at  his 
side." 

"  Well,  Colonel,  that  is  a  combination  of 
temptations  I  cannot  resist.  To  see  the  ven- 
erable rector  I  feel  were  almost  a  duty,  and 
to  disappoint  Ned  would  be  unpardonable." 

Colonel  Marshall  directed  Ned  and  Hes- 
ter to  get  ready  in  their  Sunday  clothes,  and 
told  Ned  to  bring  the  carriage  to  the  door 
and  drive  his  mistress,  Mr.  Standwick  and 
himself  to  town,  telling  Hester  she  could,  if 
she  wished,  ride  on  the  elevated  driver's  seat 
226 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN    3*7 

with  Ned,  a  privilege  to  which  she  was  ac- 
customed and  of  which  she  was  very  proud. 

Ned  was  overjoyed  at  the  directions  given 
him.  "  I  much  obleeged,  boss,  dat  you  gwine 
stay  ober  Sunday,  an'  dat  I  git  ter  drive  you 
ter  town  wid  Marster  an'  Miss  Ma'y.  You 
gwine  ter  see  a  gent'man's  nigger  an'  a  nigger 
gent'man  drive  his  Marster's  kerridge  to-day, 
an'  his  wife  on  de  driver's  seat  wid  him,  an' 
you  ain'  gwine  see  him  notice  a'y  common  nig- 
ger 'twix'  heah  an'  town  an'  back." 

In  about  an  hour  the  carriage  appeared, 
drawn  by  two  large,  beautifully  formed  ma- 
hogany bays  that  stood  champing  their  bits 
and  impatiently  pawing  the  gravel  in  the  car- 
riageway. 

The  carriage,  in  shape  and  style,  belonged 
to  the  "  before  the  war "  period.  The 
driver's  seat  was  high,  the  body  of  the  vehicle 
capacious,  the  rear  springs  wide  and  almost 
circular,  the  axles  and  running-gear  strong, 
but  it  had  been  painted  and  trimmed  recently, 
and  was  not  only  impressive  in  appearance, 
but  there  was  about  it  a  most  becoming  state- 
liness  and  dignity. 

The  colorings  of  the  carriage  and  the  trap- 
pings of  the  horses  were  brilliant  and  tasteful, 
and  Hester,  with  a  black  silk  dress  and  white 
embroidered  collar,  a  pair  of  white  gloves 
and  a  bonnet  of  generous  proportions  and 
somewhat  out  of  style,  made  a  picture  in  keep- 
ing with  the  surroundings. 


228    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

No  lady  could  have  borne  herself  with  more 
dignity,  or  an  air  of  more  perfect  satisfaction 
with  her  toilet  and  her  environment;  but 
horses,  carriages,  and  Hester  all  "  paled  their 
ineffectual  fires  "  before  Ned. 

He  was  arrayed  in  his  "  bro'dclof "  suit. 
His  three-story  hat  towered  far  above  his 
white  locks;  his  boots  were  polished  to  mirror- 
like  perfection,  and  his  "  blue  silk  neck  hank'- 
cher  "  spread  out  in  generous  expanse  over 
the  lapels  of  his  vest  and  his  shirt  front.  No 
monarch  ever  held  his  scepter,  emblem  of  his 
royalty,  more  proudly  than  Ned  carried  his 
carriage  whip,  and  no  courtier  could  have 
borne  himself  with  more  dignity. 

As  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Marshall  and  their 
guest  approached  the  carriage,  he  bowed  low 
and  lifted  his  "  three-story  hat,"  then  let  down 
the  steps  of  the  carriage  and  touched  one  arm 
of  his  mistress,  while  her  husband  held  the 
other.  After  she  had  been  seated,  Colonel 
Marshall  bade  his  guest  enter  the  carriage. 
As  Mr.  Standwick  seated  himself  by  the  side 
of  Mrs.  Marshall,  Ned  bowed,  and  when 
Colonel  Marshall  stepped  into  the  carriage, 
he  transferred  his  hat  to  his  whip  hand  and 
closed  the  door  with  a  profound  obeisance. 

After  hosts  and  guest  were  seated,  Ned 
turned  to  Hester  and  bowed  and  said,  "  Now, 
Missiz,  Hester  Marshall,  I'll  'sist  you  up  ter 
de  driver's  seat,  an'  yer  husban'  gwine  git  up 
dar  'long  side  er  you,  an'  den  dis  heah  kerridge 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENTMAN    229 

gwine  ter  p'amberlate  to'rds  town  lak  a 
streak." 

Hester  was  soon  seated  on  the  left-hand 
side  of  the  elevated  driver's  seat,  and  Ned 
sprang  up  by  her  side  with  wonderful  agility, 
considering  his  age.  Gathering  up  the  lines 
taut  and  grasping  the  whip,  he  said  to  the 
stable  boy  who  stood  holding  the  bits,  "  Tu'n 
'em  erloose.  Dey  gwine  ter  go  now  lak  er 
shot  outen  er  shovel,"  and  the  noble  animals 
made  good  the  forceful  illustration. 

It  was  a  lovely  Sunday  morning.  A 
brighter,  fairer  one  never  dawned.  A  bluer 
sky  never  arched  the  earth,  nor  more  glorious 
sunshine  ever  flooded  it  with  dazzling  radi- 
ance. 

If  all  the  forces  and  elements  of  Nature 
had  conspired  to  create  a  day  of  brightness 
and  beauty,  of  which  every  breath  was  a  tonic 
draught  and  when  the  hearts  of  men  re- 
sponded to  Nature's  wooings,  they  could  not 
have  made  a  day  of  rarer  loveliness.  The 
air  was  crisp  and  cool,  and  the  rays  of  the  sun 
falling  out  of  a  cloudless  sky  tempered  the 
breath  of  the  north  wind,  which  blew  softly 
in  gentle  warning  that  winter  was  coming 
again  to  assume  dominion;  and  the  lungs 
eagerly  drew  in  the  life-giving  draughts  which 
came  with  cheer  and  thrill  and  healing  on 
their  wings. 

A  day  so  fair,  so  full  of  beauty,  uplifted 
the  souls  of  men,  stirred  their  hearts  with 


230    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

gratitude  and  reverence,  and  drew  them  as  by 
one  impulse  to  the  house  of  God,  and  Colonel 
and  Mrs.  Marshall  and  their  guest  looked  for- 
ward with  pleasure  to  the  service  in  which 
they  were  soon  to  take  part. 

With  such  horses  and  upon  such  a  morn- 
ing, the  drive  to  town  was  short,  but  every 
moment  was  a  delight  to  Ned.  He  looked 
neither  to  the  right  nor  the  left,  and  faithfully 
kept  his  pledge  not  to  notice  "  a'y  common 
nigger  " ;  but  he  bowed  politely  to  every  white 
person  he  knew  among  those  he  saw  as  he 
drew  near  the  town. 

Everybody  seemed  to  know  Colonel  and 
Mrs.  Marshall,  and  that  they  were  admired 
and  respected  by  all  who  knew  them  was  most 
evident.  Mr.  Standwick  noticed  with  pleas- 
ure that  both  spoke  courteously  and  in  the 
kindest  tone  to  every  negro  who  spoke  to 
them,  and  as  the  speed  of  the  team  was  low- 
ered in  going  up  a  long,  gradually  sloping  hill, 
Colonel  Marshall  observed  a  very  old  negro 
walking  slowly  and  with  apparent  difficulty 
in  the  footpath  which  ran  beside  the  main 
road,  and  he  ordered  Ned  to  stop,  and  got  out 
of  the  carriage. 

When  the  old  negro  saw  him,  a  smile 
lighted  his  wrinkled  face,  and  he  removed 
his  dilapidated  hat  and  bowed  low,  scraping 
his  foot  back  as  he  did  so,  and  saying,  "  Good 
mawnin',  Marse  Cunnel;  de  top  er  de  mawn- 
in'  ter  yo\  Yo'  sho'  is  lookin'  fine.  How  is 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'   GENT'MAN    231 

de  Mistiss?  She  is  de  purties'  white  lady, 
tubbe  sho'." 

"  I  thank  you,"  said  the  Colonel;  "  she  is 
very  well.  How  are  you  ?  " 

"  Only  tolerbul,  Marse  Gunnel.  I  b'en 
po'ly  all  de  fall." 

"  You  must  ride  the  rest  of  the  way," 
Colonel  Marshall  said.  "  Get  up  here  on 
this  good  broad  seat  between  the  springs." 

The  old  negro  had  difficulty  in  reaching 
the  seat,  but  Colonel  Marshall  assisted  him 
and  saw  him  safely  located,  and  then  re- 
entered  the  carriage  and  directed  Ned  to 
drive  on. 

Ned  was  opposed  to  taking  the  wayfarer 
lest  it  detract  from  the  glory  of  his  entrance 
into  the  town,  but  he  said  nothing,  except  in 
an  undertone  to  Hester,  "  Now,  don'  dat  beat 
you?  Marster  stop  de  fines'  kerridge  an'  de 
fines'  bosses  an'  de  fines'  dress'  nigger  in  dis 
country  ter  pick  up  a  common  co'n-fieP  nig- 

gsr  an'  gib  him  er  ride?  Dat  jes'  lak  him. 
f  it  wa'n't  fer  him,  'bout  half  de  niggers  in 
dis  county  would  starbe  ter  def;  but  dis  is 
chu'ch  day,  an'  de  Good  Book  say  dat  yer 
mus'  look  atter  de  poh,  so  I  ain't  say  nuttin'. 
"  I'se  willin'  ter  haul  de  old  feller  ter  town, 
'ca'se  he  b'en  a  fait'ful  ole  serbunt  to  some- 
body an'  he  gittin'  to'rds  de  een'  er  his  days. 
I  glad  Marster  pick  up  de  ole  nigger  w'ile  de 
norden  gent'man  be  ndin'  wid  him,  'ca'se  it 
gwine  show  him  dat  a  quality-gent'man  is  kin' 


232    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

an'  good  ter  white  an'  black  all  de  same.  Ef 
Marster  didn'  be  quality-gent'man,  he  wouldn' 
pay  no  mo'  'tenshun  ter  dat  ole  nigger  dan  he 
would  ter  er  terrypin  er  crawlin'  'long  dat 
road. 

"  De  quality  ob  peepuls  is  sho'ly  in  dey 
h'arts.  Dey  acts  diff'unt  f'um  de  scrubs.  It 
seem'  lak  dey  jes'  nachu'lly  knows  how  ter  do 
de  right  thing,  an'  jes'  'bleeged  fer  ter  dp  it." 

By  the  time  Ned  had  finished  his  estimate 
of  his  "  Marster,"  and  his  reflections  on  the 
incident,  the  carriage  drew  up  at  the  gate  of 
the  residence  of  Hamilton  Marshall,  Jr.,  who 
with  his  wife  was  at  the  gate  ready  to  greet 
their  guests.  After  most  affectionate  greet- 
ing to  their  parents,  both  the  younger  Mar- 
shall and  his  wife  gave  Mr.  Standwick  a 
gracious  and  cordial  welcome,  and  he  was  im- 
pressed by  the  striking  resemblance  between 
the  father  and  son. 

The  younger  man  was  stalwart  and  erect, 
and  his  eyes  had  the  same  frank  and  kindly 
expression  that  made  his  father's  face  so  at- 
tractive. The  empty  left  sleeve  bore  silent 
testimony  to  the  fact  that  he  had  stood  in  that 
long,  thin,  gray  line  of  warriors  whose  deeds 
challenged  the  admiration  of  mankind,  and 
had  been  an  actor  in  that  mighty  drama 
which  with  a  continent  for  a  stage  and  a  world 
for  an  audience  for  four  years  enchained  the 
attention  of  civilized  humanity,  and  Mr. 
Standwick  could  not  for  a  moment  doubt 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    233 

the  integrity  of  conviction  and  action  of  the 
magnificent  specimen  of  manhood  who  had, 
with  such  evident  sincerity,  welcomed  the 
Puritan  stranger  to  his  home,  and  who  bore 
upon  every  lineament  of  his  countenance  the 
indefinable  stamp  which  God  and  Nature  puts 
upon  the  gentleman. 

After  the  greetings  were  over  between  the 
parents  and  their  guest  and  their  hosts  to  be 
during  the  day,  Colonel  Marshall  said,  "  My 
son,  Annie  and  you  must  not  forget  Hester 
and  Ned." 

"  No  danger,  father,"  said  the  son,  "  that 
we  will  do  that,"  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
greeted  "  Mammy  "  and  "  Uncle  Ned,"  and 
shook  hands  with  them  and  inquired  after 
their  health. 

Both  replied  that  they  were  "  tolerbul, 
thankee,  young  Marster,"  and  Ned  eagerly 
asked,  "  How  is  little  young  Marster  w'ut 
b'en  so  sick?  We  is  pow'ful  oneasy  'bout 
him." 

"  Oh,  he  is  all  right  now.  You  see  him 
yonder  on  the  gallery  able  to  be  up,  and  clap- 
ping his  hands  in  delight."  Colonel  and 
Mrs.  Marshall  had  lingered  as  if  to  give  their 
guest  the  opportunity  to  witness  the  meeting 
between  the  old  negro  and  their  "  young 
Marster." 

Perhaps  without  a  conscious  purpose,  Ned 
gave  the  northern  guest  full  opportunity  to 
understand  conditions  and  relations  as  they 


234    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

were,  for  when  he  saw  Hamilton  Marshall, 
the  third,  he  said,  "  Dat's  er  fack,  yon'er  he 
is,  tubbe  sho',"  and  lifting  his  hat  and  bow- 
ing, said,  "  Marster,  de  liT  young  Marster 
'minds  me  er  Marse  Hamilton  when  he  was 
er  chap.  He  sho'  was  er  buster." 

At  this  point  Hester  took  part  in  the  con- 
versation. "  Time  do  sho'ly  go  er  scootin'. 
It  'pears  lak  on'y  jes'  de  udder  day  w'en 
Marse  Hamilton  was  Miss  Ma'y'  baby  an' 
my  baby.  He  sho'  was  de  fines'  boy  dis  ken- 
try  ebber  seed  up  ter  dat  time.  We  done 
watch  him  grow  up  an'  seed  him  w'en  he  was 
er  settin'  up  ter  de  young  gals,  an'  was  gay 
an'  lif  his  foot  cl'ar  lak  a  co'tin'  man;  an' 
now  he  bigger  'an  Marster,  an'  done  got  er 
wife  an'  er  liT  Hamilton  er  his  own,  an'  b'en 
ter  de  wah  an'  los'  his  ahm,  an'  I  kin  ska'sely 
b'liebe  it  all." 

"  I  mighty  glad,"  said  Ned,  "  little  young 
Marster  done  got  well,  'ca'se  he  very  'portant 
young  man.  He  got  ter  keep  de  Marshall 
name  er  gwine,  an'  it's  er  gran'  name  fer  sho'. 
It's  er  quality-name,  an'  quality-folks  w'ars 
it,  an'  he  jes'  keep  up  de  fambly  record, 
he  be  all  right.  He  got  de  blood  an'  de 
breedin',  an'  dey  gwine  tell  jes'  same  ez  dey 
do  in  hosses.  Mr.  Stan'ick,  I  glad  you  see 
all  mah  white  folks,  an'  glad  you  gwine  ter  be 
in  mah  young  Marster's  house,  an'  glad  you 
rid  behin'  dese  two  thurrerbreds  I  got  hoi'  ob 
right  now." 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'    GENT'MAN    235 

"  Thank  you,  Ned,"  said  Mr.  Standwick. 
"  I  am  just  as  glad  as  you  are,  and  I  am 
greatly  pleased  to  have  the  privilege  of  being 
just  where  I  am,  for  I  am  learning  much." 

As  the  party  moved  off  toward  the  house, 
Colonel  Marshall  said,  "  Ned,  you  can  put 
the  horses  in  the  stable;  we  will  walk  to 
church." 

"  Marster,"  said  Ned,  "  is  you  got  any 
'jection  to  mah  drivin'  'roun'  de  cote-house 
squar',  so  dese  town  peepuls  kin  see  de  ker- 
ridge  an'  dese  thurrerbred  hosses?" 

"  Oh,  no,"  replied  Colonel  Marshall,  "  if 
it  will  give  you  any  pleasure." 

"  Thankee,  Marster.  Now  dese  peepuls 
gwine  see  de  fines'  kerridge  an'  pa'r  er  hosses 
dat  ebber  mek  tracks  in  dis  town,"  and  Ned 
drove  in  state  around  the  town.  He  bowed 
profoundly  to  every  "  quality-gent'man,"  but 
utterly  ignored  every  negro.  One  elderly  one 
got  almost  in  the  way  of  the  wheels  and 
called,  "Howdy,  Ned?"  but  Ned's  only 
reply  was,  "  G'long,  nigger;  don'  bodder  me. 
Don'  you  see  um  drivin'  Marster's  kerridge, 
an'  I  ain't  got  no  time  ter  fool  'long  er  de 
likes  er  you." 

As  they  proceeded  toward  the  house, 
Colonel  Marshall  said  laughingly,  "  You  see, 
Mr.  Standwick,  whatever  the  rest  of  the 
world  may  say  of  the  clan  Marshall,  it  is 
certain  to  have  two  champions  as  long  as 
Ned  and  Hester  live;  but  I  fear  they  are 


236    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

hardly  impartial  enough  to  give  their  opin- 
ions much  value.  There  is  no  doubt,  though, 
of  their  sincerity,  nor  of  their  love  for  my 
son.  They  nursed  him  and  rocked  him  in  his 
cradle,  and  often  when  he  was  a  baby  kept 
him  all  night,  and  their  pride  in  him  was  and 
is  intense." 

"  Colonel,"  returned  Mr.  Standwick,  "  the 
unmistakably  sincere  devotion  of  your  negro 
servants  to  you  and  your  wife  and  your  son 
and  to  the  memories  of  your  dead  children, 
is  to  me  as  beautiful  as  it  is  surprising.  I 
know  of  no  feature  of  social  and  domestic 
life  here  that  is  so  remarkable  to  me.  I  would 
not  have  believed  it  had  I  not  seen  it." 

As  they  entered  the  house,  Hester  said: 
"  Miss  Annie,  is  you  got  er  cook  ter-day? 
De  las'  Sunday  we  was  heah,  one  er  dese  miz- 
zerbul  new  free  niggers  done  quit  yer  col' 
bedout  any  notice  'tall,  an'  yer  would  er  had 
ter  do  de  cookin'  ef  I  hadn't  come." 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  Mrs.  Marshall,  Jr.,  "  I 
have  a  kind  of  a  cook;  not  one  like  you  or 
Dinah." 

"  Dat's  de  truff,  Miss  Annie,  sho'  ez  you 
bo'n.  Cooks  lak  me  an'  Dinah  is  ska'se;  an' 
bein'  's  you  ain't  got  er  sho'-'nuff  cook,  I  gwine 
in  an'  tek  er  han',  'fo'  I  go  ter  chu'ch."  And 
Hester  at  once  assumed  charge  of  the  kitchen, 
first  informing  the  regular  cook,  "  My  white 
folks  got  a  nordern  gen'man  fer  comp'ny, 
an'  dey  wants  a  scrumpshus  dinner."  And  she 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    237 

proceeded  to  arrange  for  a  dinner  that  would 
fulfill  that  description. 

The  party  walked  to  church,  Ned  and 
Hester  bringing  up  the  rear,  and  after  their 
"  white  folks  "  had  been  seated,  they  entered 
and  took  the  rear  pew  on  the  right,  in  which 
they  had  often  sat. 

The  venerable  rector  took  for  his  theme 
one  of  that  octave  of  beatitudes  wherewith 
the  Man  of  Galilee  began  the  memorable 
discourse  to  his  disciples  and  the  multitude 
on  the  mountain  side — "  Blessed  are  the 
peacemakers,  for  they  shall  be  called  the  chil- 
dren of  God."  His  sermon  was  an  earnest, 
heartfelt,  and  appropriate  plea  for  peace 
between  the  two  sections,  for  forgiveness  of 
injuries,  for  blotting  out  of  bitter  memories, 
and  for  restoration  of  brotherly  feeling  be- 
tween those  who  so  recently  met  in  deadly 
combat,  and  for  building  up  and  welding  in 
indissoluble  bonds  of  patriotism  the  two  sec- 
tions of  a  common  country;  and  Mr.  Stand- 
wick  afterward  expressed  to  Colonel  Mar- 
shall his  appreciation  of  the  spirit  and  text 
of  the  discourse. 

The  communion  service  followed  the  ser- 
mon, and  after  all  the  white  communicants 
had  partaken,  Mr.  Standwick  could  scarcely 
conceal  his  astonishment  when  he  saw  Ned 
and  Hester  approach  and  kneel  at  the  chancel 
rail  where  a  few  moments  before  he  and  their 
master  and  mistress  had  knelt,  and  saw  them 


238    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

take  the  symbol  of  the  eucharist  from  the 
same  hands  from  which  those  who  preceded 
them  had  received  it. 

When  the  services  were  ended  and  the  wor- 
shipers had  been  dismissed,  following  the 
custom  which  yet  prevails  in  many  churches, 
the  members  of  the  congregation  lingered  and 
exchanged  greetings  and  salutations,  and 
Colonel  Marshall  and  his  wife  presented 
their  guest  to  many  of  their  acquaintances  and 
friends.  His  presence  as  a  guest  in  the  Mar- 
shall home  had  become  known,  and  there  was 
a  general  desire  to  meet  him,  especially  as  his 
political  convictions  and  his  views  relative 
to  slavery  and  the  war  had  been  much  dis- 
cussed. 

Since  the  close  of  the  war  the  number  of 
those  coming  from  that  section  wherein  Mr. 
Standwick  lived  who  were  worthy  to  receive 
or  did  receive  social  recognition  at  the  hands 
of  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  that  or  any 
other  similar  community  was  very  small,  and 
Colonel  Marshall  was  desirous  that  his  guest 
should  see  that  he  would  be  received  and 
treated  according  to  his  merits,  regardless  of 
the  place  of  his  nativity  or  his  political 
opinions. 

Mr.  Standwick  found  this  true,  for  that 
he  was  a  gentleman  was  always  apparent,  and 
he  was  received  with  the  utmost  cordiality, 
and  the  wish  was  expressed  by  a  number  that 
he  would  prolong  his  stay  so  they  might  have 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    239 

the  pleasure  of  having  him  as  their  guest. 
He  was  struck  with  the  ease  of  manner  and 
good  breeding  and  familiarity  with  social 
usages  and  requirements  of  all  those  whom  he 
met. 

He  was,  too,  specially  impressed  by  the 
courteous  and  cordial  greeting  extended  by 
Colonel  and  Mrs.  Marshall  to  all  whom  they 
met.  There  was  an  unaffected  sincerity  in 
their  manner,  and  it  seemed  as  if  Mrs.  Mar- 
shall especially  sought  out  those  who  by  rea- 
son of  their  plainness  of  dress,  or  their  pov- 
erty, or  other  causes,  kept  in  the  background, 
and  to  each  and  all  she  gave  a  hearty,  cheery 
greeting;  and  it  was  evident  that  she  was  not 
only  respected,  but  greatly  beloved. 

As  the  party  were  returning  home,  Mr. 
Standwick  said,  "  Surely  no  stranger  ever  re- 
ceived a  more  kindly  welcome  or  met  those 
who  were  more  evidently  ladies  and  gentle- 
men. I  am  able  to  testify  that  in  at  least  one 
place  in  the  South,  social  distinctions  do  not 
rest  on  a  financial  basis.  I  am  sure  many 
whom  I  met  to-day  were  by  no  means  rich, 
and  indeed  must  be  in  a  money  sense  poor,  yet 
they  bear  the  outward  and  visible  sign  of  that 
inward  and  nobler  nature  which  is  the  pos- 
session of  only  gentlemen  and  gentlewomen; 
and  I  am  sure  you  and  Mrs.  Marshall  did  not 
pay  the  slightest  attention  to  the  financial 
standing  of  those  presented  to  me." 

"  Indeed,  we  did  not,"  said  Colonel  Mar- 


240    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

shall,  "  and  you  met  those  to-day  as  our 
friends  who,  impoverished  by  the  war,  are  de- 
pendent upon  their  daily  labor  to  earn  a  live- 
lihood, and  too  often  a  precarious  one,  yet 
who  in  point  of  culture  and  character  and  ac- 
complishments would  be  at  ease  in  a  queen's 
drawing-room.  They  were  not  very  rich  be- 
fore the  war;  they  are  poor  now;  but  they 
were  then,  as  they  are  now,  ladies  and  gen- 
tlemen by  instinct,  inheritance,  and  associa- 
tion." 

"  Something  new,  Colonel  Marshall,  is  re- 
vealed to  me  every  day,  and  the  most  surpris- 
ing thing  I  have  yet  seen  was  the  approach  of 
Ned  and  Hester  to  the  communion  altar ;  and 
you  will  pardon  me  for  saying  that  I  could 
not  help  but  wonder  if  it  was  usual  for  them 
to  do  so,  or  were  they  permitted  to  come 
because  a  stranger  from  the  North  was 
present." 

;'  Why,"  said  Colonel  Marshall,  "  that  was 
not  thought  of;  though  I  am  glad  that  their 
participation  and  your  presence  were  coinci- 
dent. They  have  done  the  same  thing  hun- 
dreds of  times.  Religion  with  the  average 
negro  is  a  mixture  of  ignorance,  superstition, 
fanatical  excitement,  and  emotion,  which  has 
absolutely  nothing  to  do  with  his  daily  life, 
and  which  in  nowise  moves  upon  his  moral 
nature,  and  Ned  and  Hester  will  have  noth- 
ing to  do  with  negro  churches. 

4  They  were  baptized   and  confirmed   as 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'   GENTMAN    241 

Episcopalians,  and  while  they  cannot  read, 
they  know  the  creed  and  the  Lord's  prayer, 
and  follow  the  service  with  wonderful  accu- 
racy and  interest,  and  they  always  partake  of 
the  communion. 

"  By  their  lives  and  characters  they  set  ex- 
amples that  even  the  best  of  whites  may  well 
imitate,  and  they  are  worthy  to  bow  at  the 
shrine  where  the  exalted  and  the  humble  meet 
in  the  democracy  of  a  common  faith  and  the 
consciousness  of  a  common  weakness  and  de- 
pendence." 

Mr.  Standwick  found  in  the  house  of  the 
younger  Marshall  the  same  gracious  hospital- 
ity which  had  been  extended  him  in  the  house 
of  the  elder;  a  hospitality  free  from  ostenta- 
tion, but  full  of  gentleness  and  delightful  cor- 
diality. 

After  dinner  Ned  came  to  inquire  at  what 
hour  his  master  desired  to  start  home,  and 
was  instructed  to  have  the  carriage  at  the  door 
at  four  o'clock,  until  which  time  he  and  Hes- 
ter were  at  liberty  to  go  where  they  wished. 

"  We  don'  keer  nuttin'  'bout  gwine  no- 
whars,  thankee,  Marster.  Dar  ain't  no  nig- 
gers in  dis  town  dat  Hester  an'  me  'soshates 
wid.  Ef  you  please,  we'd  rudder  set  here  on 
de  steps  an'  heah  our  white  folks  talk." 

"  All  right,"  said  the  younger  Marshall, 
"  you  can  tell  Mr.  Standwick  something  about 
the  Reconstruction  times.  He  says  you  have 
told  him  some  remarkable  stories." 


242    NED:   NIGGER  AN1   GENTMAN 

"  I  ain't  toP  him  na'y  thing  w'ut  ain't  so, 
sho'  ez  you  bo'n,  young  Marstcr;  an*  cf  I 
was  ter  tell  him  all  de  devilment  an'  c'rupshun 
dem  carpetbaggers  an'  scalerwags  done  in 
dis  kentry,  't  would  tek  me  all  er  nex*  week; 
but  I  kin  tell  him  *bout  de  jestis  er  de  peace 
what  fotch  on  so  much  trubble  an'  mbdn'  up, 
wid  de  Vorcements  he  gib  niggers  promisk'us 


roun 


"  Good,"  said  Mr.  Standwick,  "  I  shall  be 
delighted  to  hear  it." 

"  It  may  add  interest  to  the  recital,  Mr. 
Standwick,"  said  Colonel  Marshall,  "  to  know 
that  it  is  true,  absurd  as  it  sounds  to  hear  it; 
but  it  is  in  keeping  with  what  we  have 
endured  here  for  weary,  wearing,  horrible 
years," 

"  You  see,"  said  Ned,  "  de  carpetbag  Gub- 
ner  'p'inted  dat  nigger  jestis  er  de  peace,  an' 
at  de  same  time  he  'p'inted  er  low-down  car- 
petbagger clu'k  er  de  county  cote,  an'  de 
clu*k  had  ter  sell  de  lisunce  ter  folks  w'ut 
wants  ter  mah'y.  UT  while  atter  dat,  de 
carpetbag  legislatur'  done  mek  a  law  dat  all 
de  niggers  w'ut  was  libin'  tergedder  ez  man 
an'  wire  at  a  suttin  time  shell  be  count  ez  ef 
dey  b'en  mah'y  reg'lar  lak  white  folks. 

"Lots  er  dem  niggers  ain't  lak  dat  'tall, 
'ca'se  dcy  ain't  lak  no  kin'  er  law  w'ut  gwine 
keep  'em  f  ran  changin'  dey  wifes  w'en  dey 
got  tyud  un  'em;  so  dey  'gin  ter  sku'mish 
'roun'  how  ter  git  loose.  You  see,  Mr.  Stan'- 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    243 

ick,  dey  don'  know  nuttin'  'bout  dis  Vorce- 
ment  bus'ness — it's  new  in  dese  parts. 

"  I  nebber  heerd  er  but  one  er  two  Vorces 
in  all  mah  life  'fo'  de  war  'mongst  white 
folks,  an'  when  peepul  spoked  'bout  dem  dey 
done  it  in  er  whisper;  but  dat  clu'k  an'  dat 
jestis  sot  Vo'ces  ergwine  de  quickes'. 

"  De  clu'k  tol'  de  fool  niggers  dey  could 
go  ter  cote  an'  git  er  Vo'ce,  an'  den  mah'y 
er  new  wife,  an'  de  niggers  ain't  had  no  bet- 
ter sense  dan  ter  go  ter  de  jestis'  cote,  an'  de 
jestis  an'  de  clu'k  done  fix  up  a  scheme  sich 
ez  I  bet  you  ain't  nebber  heerd  ob. 

"  He  know  mos'  ebber'  nigger  b'liebes  in 
'  hoodoo  '  and  '  voodoo  '  an'  sich,  so  de  cl'uk 
tol'  de  niggers  w'ut  want  to  git  'vo'cement 
papers  dat  de  sperits  gwine  er  put  er  cha'm 
some'r's  'bout  de  cabin  er  in  de  yard  ob  ebber' 
nigger  w'ut  de  law  'low  ter  git  Vo'ce.  Den 
he,  unbeknownst  ter  de  niggers,  got  er  big  lot 
er  glass  stoppers,  an'  red  flannin,  an'  ha'r  out 
en  hoss  tails,  an'  wrop  de  stoppers  in  de  flan- 
nin' an'  tie  de  hoss  ha'r  'roun'  'em ;  an'  den  he 
got  er  slick  young  yaller  nigger  depperty  clu'k 
w'ut  come  neah  wid  him  w'en  he  fus'  come 
down  dis  way  wid  his  carpetbag,  ter  put  de 
cha'ms  in  de  cracks  er  de  niggers'  cabins,  an' 
in  dey  yard  or  under  dey  steps,  an'  den  de 
clu'k  tell  de  niggers  he  will  sen'  his  depperty 
ter  see  ef  de  sperits  sont  any  cha'm,  an'  ob 
co'se  de  depperty  kin  fin'  de  cha'm  quick,  an' 
den  de  nigger  go  an'  tek.  it  ter  de  jestis  ob  de 


244    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

peace  an'  ax  kin  he  gib  folks  Vo'cement  pa- 
pers. 

"  De  jestis  r'ar  back  an'  say,  '  Co'se  I  kin. 
Ef  I  kin  mah'y  folks,  don'  it  stan'  ter  reason 
dat  I  kin  onmah'y  urn?  W'ut  I  jine  I  kin  un- 
jine,  cain't  I?  ' 

"  Den  de  nigger  say,  '  How  much  does  you 
chawge  fer  Vo'cement  papers?  '  De  jestis 
say,  '  Bein's  ez  peepul  in  ginerul  is  twice  anx- 
'usher  ter  get  unmah'd  dan  dey  is  ter  git 
mah'yd,  I  charges  two  dollars  ter  onmah'y  'em 
an'  one  dollar  ter  mah'y  'em.'  An'  dat  nig- 
ger sho'  done  a  lan'-offis  bus'ness,  an'  de  cluk 
done  de  same  er  sellin'  lisunsis. 

"  Some  days  he  sell  twenty  pa'r,  an'  mos' 
ebber'  nigger  in  de  county  got  Vo'cement  pa- 
pers f'um  dat  nigger  jestis.  He  gin  de  man 
an'  de  'oman  both  er  paper  w'ut  he  done  writ 
on  dat  he  sutterfy  dat  he  done  gib  de  nigger  a 
Vo'cement,  an'  dat  he  done  stomp  his  seal  on 
de  paper.  Jes'  soon  ez  ebber'  nigger  man 
got  his  Vo'cement  papers  he  brek  fer  de 
clu'k's  offis  ter  git  er  pa'r  er  lisunsis  ter  mah'y 
ernudder  nigger,  an'  so  dey  jes'  swap  wifes 
lak  folks  swap  hosses  county-cote  day. 

"  Dar  was  de  wuss'  changin'  an'  mixin' 
up  ebber  you  see,  twell  de  quality-folks  done 
riz  an'  tek  chawge  ob  de  gub'ment  an'  'lect  a 
quality  gent'man  an'  lawyer  fer  jedge,  an'  den 
de  gran'  jury  'dite  de  whole  bunch  er  nig- 
gers fer  biggermy.  I  b'liebe  dat's  w'ut  dey 
call  it." 


NED:    NIGGER    AN'   GENTMAN    245 

"  Yes,  that's  right,"  said  Mr.  Standwick. 

"  Well,  sah,  dey  nebber  was  sich  er  time 
er  'ditin'  an'  'res'in'  sence  de  worT  bergin. 
It  look  lak  dey  gwine  ter  put  ebber'  nigger  in 
de  county  in  de  pen'tenshy;  but  Marster  tuk 
er  han'  'bout  dat  time.  He  tol'  de  jedge  dat 
de  niggers  ain'  'tend  ter  brek  de  law,  dat  er 
low-down  white  man  done  deceibe  de  po' 
fools,  an'  'duce  'em  ter  do  dat  w'ut  was 
'g'inst  de  law,  an'  it  would  be  er  shame  ter 
put  de  ig'unt  niggers  in  de  pen'tenshy.  So 
de  jedge,  bein'  a  good  man  an'  er  fa'r  man, 
w'ut  use'  ter  hab  plenty  er  niggers,  he  nul- 
squash  all  de  'ditements  an'  flung  de  cases  out 
en  de  cote-house;  but  he  tol'  all  dem  niggers 
dey  mus'  tek  de  wifes  back  w'ut  dey  had  fust; 
an'  I  sw'ar  dem  niggers  b'en  swappin'  wifes 
ebber  sense,  an'  dey  ain'  ska'sely  got  straight 
yit. 

"  Some  er  dem  nigger  men  'd  rudder  go 
ter  de  pen'tenshy  dan  tek  dem  same  'oman 
back  w'ut  dey  had  at  fust,  so  dey  lit  out  an' 
lef  heah,  an'  ain'  nebber  come  back  yit." 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Standwick,  "  did  you 
patronize  the  justice  of  the  peace  and  clerk 
and  get  you  a  new  wife,  Ned?  " 

Ned  glanced  at  Hester,  who  was  appar- 
ently listening  intently  for  his  answer,  and 
said  sotto  voce,  with  an  amusing  grimace, 
"No,  sah;  I  look  eroun'  er  li'F  bit,  but  I 
'eluded  I  better  hoi'  on  ter  de  one  I  got.  You 
see,  boss,  Hester  an'  me  b'en  mah'y  lak  qual- 


246    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

ity-folks.  We  mah'y  in  Marster's  house,  an' 
de  'Piskerpul  preacher  w'ut  you  heerd  ter-day 
'form  de  sur'mony.  I  was  skeered,  an'  it 
look  ter  me  lak  he  gwine  say  de  whole  pra'r 
book;  but  he  jine  us  too  close  fer  any  nigger 
jestis  ter  onjine  us,  so  I  didn'  git  mix  up  wid 
dem  common  niggers  an'  dey  hoodoos  an' 
voodoos." 

The  ride  home  was  short  and  delightful. 
The  splendid  horses  were  eager  to  go,  and 
Ned  went  the  farthest  way  through  the  town, 
so,  as  he  expressed  it,  "  All  de  peepuls  could 
see  how  a  gent'man's  nigger  kin  drive  his 
Marster's  kerridge  wid  his  Marster  an'  his 
Mistiss  an'  dey  g'ess'  in  it." 

The  carriage  had  hardly  stopped  at  the 
foot  of  the  front  steps  before  a  stable  boy 
was  at  the  heads  of  the  horses,  and  Ned  was 
at  the  carriage  door,  hat  and  whip  in  one 
hand  and  the  handle  of  the  door  in  the  other, 
ready  to  open  it  and  let  down  the  steps.  As 
each  one  in  the  carriage  stepped  out,  he 
bowed,  and  when  all  were  safely  on  the 
ground  he  said,  "  Dar,  now,  we-all's  b'en  ter 
town  an'  ter  chu'ch  an'  got  back  safe,  thang 
Gawd.  We  seen  Marse  Hamilton  an'  Miss 
Annie  an'  li'P  young  Marster,  an'  Mr.  Stan'- 
ick  done  see  dat  Ned's  er  driver  fer  true  w'en 
he  gits  his  bro'd  clof  suit  on  an'  his  stovepipe 
hat  an'  his  blue  silk  neck-hank'cher;  an'  he 
done  rid  behin'  de  two  fastes'  hosses,  an'  de 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    247 

fines'  in  dis  county;  an'  de  peepul  all  seed  Ned 
er  drivin',  too  proud  ter  look  at  common  nig- 
gers, 'ca'se  he  was  drivin'  his  Marster  an'  his 
Mistiss  an'  dey  g'ess';  an'  he  mus'n't  fergit 
his  onlies'  wife  w'ut  rid  wid  him,  an'  wus 
pow'ful  hope  up  'ca'se  she  did." 

When  supper  was  announced,  Colonel 
Marshall  said,  "  Mr.  Standwick,  we  will  give 
you  a  cold  supper  to-night,  with  the  exception 
of  tea  and  coffee.  We  follow  an  immemorial 
custom  in  our  family,  and  in  a  large  majority 
of  southern  families,  in  never  eating  hot  sup- 
pers on  Sunday  night.  Sunday  afternoon 
and  night  belong  to  the  servants,  especially 
the  cook,  according  to  usage  reaching  back 
beyond  my  memory." 

"Well,"  replied  Mr.  Standwick,  "I  am 
sure  no  apology  is  necessary,  Colonel;  and 
then,  you  see,  I  have  learned  something  more 
that  is  new,  and  that  is  contrary  to  what  I 
heard  and  believed  before  I  came  South,  when 
I  see  such  consideration  for  servants." 

After  supper  Mr.  Standwick  talked  at 
length  and  with  manifest  sincerity  of  the 
events  of  the  day;  the  delightful  hospitality 
at  the  home  of  the  younger  Marshall;  the  im- 
pressive service  and  sermon;  the  scene  of  Ned 
and  Hester  at  the  altar  of  the  church ;  the  cor- 
diality and  courtesy  extended  him,  a  stranger, 
by  all  to  whom  he  had  been  presented;  the 
interest  of  Ned  and  Hester  in  "  de  liT  young 
Marster,"  and  their  solicitude  about  him,  and 


248    NED:   NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

the  delight  and  pride  of  Ned  in  his  role  of 
driver  of  his  "  Marster's "  carriage,  and 
every  incident  and  feature  of  the  day  had,  he 
said,  been  both  delightful  and  instructive. 

The  conversation,  participated  in  by  both 
Colonel  and  Mrs.  Marshall,  continued  until 
near  the  time  for  retiring,  when  Mr.  Stand- 
wick  said,  "  Colonel,  it  is  a  glorious  moon- 
light night  I  have  rarely  seen  one  more 
beautiful,  and  as  I  purpose  beginning  my 
return  journey  in  the  morning,  I  will  be 
greatly  obliged  if  you  and  Mrs.  Marshall  will 
go  with  me  to  the  burying-ground  where  the 
two  young  captains  and  your  sons  and  daugh- 
ter and  Tom  are  resting." 

"  Certainly,  we  will  be  glad  to  have  you 
go,  and  will  go  with  you ;  and  in  all  likelihood 
we  will  find  Ned  and  Hester  there." 

"  I  should  never  have  supposed,"  said  Mr. 
Standwick,  "  from  what  I  have  heard  of  ne- 
gro superstition,  that  they  would  ever  be 
found  near  a  graveyard  at  night." 

"  Ordinarily  they  would  not,  and  I  am 
sure  they  would  not  go  to  any  other  grave- 
yard; but  it  seems  to  be  a  case  where  perfect 
love  casteth  out  fear,  for  there  are  but  few 
moonlight  nights  when  they  do  not  go  there." 

The  Colonel  excused  himself  and  soon  re- 
turned, accompanied  by  Mrs.  Marshall,  and 
the  three  walked  slowly  over  to  the  burying 
ground.  Simple  headstones  marked  each 
grave,  the  only  inscription  on  the  single  stone 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    249 

at  the  head  of  the  grave  of  the  two  captains 
being 

"CHARLES    STANWICK,    U.    S.   A. 
ARTHUR  STANWICK,  C.  S.  A. 
God   Will  Judge  Betwixt   Them." 

Walking  to  the  head  of  the  grave,  the 
three  stood  for  a  few  moments  silent  and  un- 
covered in  the  moonlight,  for  Ned  and  Hes- 
ter were  kneeling  by  the  grave  of  Tom. 

A  mocking-bird  which,  as  the  three  ap- 
proached, was  pouring  forth  a  torrent  of  me- 
lodious notes  till  the  air  was  vibrant  with  his 
song,  ceased  to  sing  and  fluttered  softly  up 
and  rested  a  little  higher  in  the  elm  which  bent 
over  the  graves. 

Mr.  Standwick  stood  very  near  to  Colonel 
Marshall,  his  hand  resting  on  the  arm  of  the 
latter,  who  felt  a  convulsive  movement  of 
the  hand,  which  caused  him  to  look  into  the 
face  of  his  guest,  whom  he  perceived  was 
quivering  with  emotion.  Suddenly  Mr. 
Standwick  dropped  on  his  knees,  and  resting 
his  head  on  his  hands,  which  grasped  the  top 
of  the  gravestone,  cried  out, 

"Oh,  my  sons!  my  sons!  I  have  found 
your  resting-place  at  last!  Thank  God,  you 
bore  yourselves  like  soldiers  and  gentlemen. 
May  the  peace  of  God  be  upon  you,  and  His 
blessings  upon  those  who  laid  you  to  rest 
here." 


250    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

Colonel  and  Mrs.  Marshall  looked  at  each 
other  in  profound  surprise,  but  stood  uncov- 
ered and  with  tear-dimmed  eyes  till  Mr. 
Standwick  rose.  When  he  had  recovered  his 
self-control  he  said, 

"  My  friends,  I  have  not  deceived  you. 
They  were  not  my  sons,  but  they  were  the 
sons  of  my  brother,  who  died  in  Connecticut, 
where  I  formerly  lived,  before  they  were 
born;  and  their  mother  died  at  their  birth. 
From  that  hour  they  were  as  my  children  and 
called  me  father,  though  I  had  indeed  never 
legally  adopted  them;  but  not  until  last  night 
did  I  feel  sure,  or  at  least  know,  that  the  two 
captains  were  my  beloved  foster-sons.  Hes- 
ter, in  rearranging  my  room,  as  she  did  every 
day,  placed  a  picture  of  each  of  the  brothers 
on  my  writing-table  for  the  first  time.  I 
have  no  language  to  express  to  you  the  grati- 
tude I  feel  for  what  you  did  for  my  living  and 
for  my  dead.  Both  of  us  have  laid  price- 
less offerings  on  the  altar  of  duty,  and  may 
well  blend  our  tears." 

As  he  spoke,  Ned  and  Hester  drew  near, 
and  when  he  had  finished,  Ned  said,  "  Boss, 
Hester  an'  me  is  sho'  sorry  fer  you,  'ca'se  we 
gin  our  boy  up,  too — our  onlies'  boy — an'  he 
res'  heah,  too.  I  b'en  er  keepin'  de  grave 
ob  Marse  Arthur  an'  Cap'n  Chawles  jes'  lak 
I  kep'  dose  ob  Marse  Alf'd  an'  Marse  Will- 
yum,  an'  I  gwine  keep  on  keepin'  ob  it.  An', 
boss,  please  'scuse  me,  I  jes'  a  po'  ig'unt  nig- 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    251 

ger,  but  I  trusses  in  de  promises  ob  de  Lawd, 
an'  I  know  I  gwine  see  mah  boy  erg'in." 

"  Ned,  I  have  the  same  faith,  and  I  thank 
you  for  your  fidelity." 

"  You's  welcome,  boss,  an' — but,  'scuse 
me  erg'in,  sah,  please;  but  all  dem  w'ut  resses 
heah  gwine  ter  rise  at  de  las'  day,  'ca'se  Mars- 
ter  read  me  whar  de  Good  Book  say  so;  an' 
I  feel  lak  w'en  dey  come,  yo'  boys  an'  Mars- 
ter's  boys  an'  mah  boy  will  all  be  wash  white 
in  de  blood  er  de  Lam'."  The  old  negro's 
voice  grew  tremulous  and  he  bowed  his  gray 
head  on  the  shoulders  of  his  faithful  wife, 
and  his  stalwart  frame  shook  with  sobs. 

"  Colonel  Marshall,"  Mr.  Standwick  said, 
"  incidentally  you  spoke  the  other  day  of  the 
last  communion  of  the  two  brothers.  Will 
you  please  tell  me  of  it  ?  " 

'  Yes,  as  we  stand  here  by  these  graves 
this  lovely  moonlight  night  I  want  to  tell  you 
of  it  and  of  the  scene  I  witnessed  the  last  time 
the  two  brothers  were  at  my  house.  Both  had 
come  alone  and  both  were  going  to  leave  after 
dark  the  same  night.  Both  had  what  were 
in  a  large  measure  independent  commands, 
and  they  were  able  by  reason  of  that  fact  to 
leave  camp  oftener  than  otherwise  they  could 
have  done. 

"  While  Jean  said  nothing  that  would  re- 
veal the  true  state  of  her  feeling,  but  even 
struggled  to  resist  the  promptings  of  her 
heart,  yet  that  she  loved  Charles  Stanwick 


252    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

was  a  fact  she  could  not  wholly  conceal;  and 
as  to  Arthur,  we  recognized  him  as  the  ac- 
cepted lover  of  our  daughter.  I  had  ridden 
to  town  and  was  returning  by  the  road  which 
runs  near  the  small  Episcopal  church  which 
stands  under  the  splendid  oaks  a  short  dis- 
tance from  here  on  the  road  to  town.  That 
church  was  built  before  the  war,  when  nearly 
all  who  lived  in  this  neighborhood  were  Epis- 
copalians, and  were  people  of  independent 
fortunes;  and  there  are  few  churches  the 
stained  windows  and  the  inside  finishings  of 
which  are  more  impressive  or  artistic. 

"  As  I  drew  near  the  church,  I  saw  Ar- 
thur and  Lucy  and  Charles  and  Jean  ap- 
proaching from  the  direction  of  the  house. 
The  church  intervened  and  they  did  not  see 
me,  and  I  waited  till  they  reached  the  church 
and  entered. 

"  They  walked  slowly  and  talked  in  low 
tones,  and  there  was  something  of  deep  rev- 
erence in  their  steps  as  they  passed  into  the 
quiet  interior  of  the  church.  I  dismounted 
and  followed  them,  and  found  they  had  gone 
straight  to  the  seat  immediately  in  front  of 
the  chancel,  where  the  aged  rector,  as  I  found 
afterward,  by  prearrangement,  awaited  them 
to  hold  a  specially  arranged  service. 

"  He  has  been  the  rector  of  the  church  in 
town  and  of  the  church  here  for  more  than 
half  a  century.  He  had  in  the  same  chancel 
held  in  his  arms  both  Jean  and  Lucy  and 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN    253 

signed  them  '  with  the  sign  of  the  cross.'  He 
is,  as  you  saw,  tall  and  slender,  and  his  gray 
hair  reaches  to  his  shoulders,  and  a  life  of 
consecrated  piety  and  stainless  purity  has 
given  to  his  face  an  almost  saintly  expression. 
Just  as  I  entered  he  began  to  read  in  clear, 
musical,  earnest  tones  that  glorious  composi- 
tion, the  Litany,  the  most  expressive,  eloquent, 
and  spiritual  deliverance  ever  set  forth  in 
human  speech. 

"  The  sun  was  just  sinking  from  sight  be- 
hind the  high  hills  in  the  rear  of  the  church 
and  its  last  rays  lighted  the  altar  and  rested 
like  a  halo  of  glory  upon  those  who  knelt  and 
him  who  served. 

"  The  voice  of  the  rector  seemed  to  grow 
stronger  as  he  read,  and  when  he  reached  that 
glorious  passage  '  By  thine  agony  and  Bloody 
sweat,  by  thy  Cross  and  Passion,  by  thy  pre- 
cious Death  and  Burial,  and  by  thy  glorious 
Resurrection  and  Ascension,'  there  was  a  ring 
of  confident,  exultant,  triumphant  Christian 
faith  in  his  tone;  and  when  he  had  finished 
reading  that  sublime  service  the  two  couples 
approached  the  chancel  and  knelt — the  two 
young  women  and  the  two  soldiers,  the  one  in 
blue,  the  other  in  gray — and  there  together 
they  partook  of  the  broken  body  and  the  shed 
blood  of  Him  who  said,  '  I  am  the  resurrec- 
tion and  the  life.' 

"  It  was  a  scene  of  wonderful  beauty  and 
impressiveness,  and  as  I  stand  here  and  think 


254    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENT'MAN 

upon  it  I  rejoice  in  that  faith  which  Ned  has 
expressed  in  his  childlike  way." 

When  Colonel  Marshall  ceased  speaking, 
all  the  party,  as  if  by  common  impulse,  started 
toward  the  gate,  Ned  and  Hester  walking  a 
respectful  distance  in  the  rear. 

As  they  moved  slowly  away  the  mocking- 
bird resumed  his  carol  in  low  soft  notes  of 
surpassing  sweetness,  which  blending  with  the 
moaning  of  the  pines  on  the  nearby  hillsides 
floated  out  upon  the  air  like  a  requiem  for 
the  souls  of  those  who  there  awaited  the  res- 
urrection morning. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

NEXT  morning  after  breakfast  Mr.  Stand- 
wick  said, 

"  Colonel  Marshall,  I  shall  take  my  leave 
this  morning.  I  am  loth  to  go,  but  my  en- 
gagements make  it  necessary.  My  mission 
has  ended  successfully.  Doubt  and  uncer- 
tainty have  been  removed.  I  know  now 
where  my  loved  ones  rest,  and  language  fails 
me  to  express  my  gratitude  to  you  and  Mrs. 
Marshall.  God  bless  you  both.  It  seems 
to  me  that  the  events  of  well-nigh  a  lifetime 
have  been  crowded  into  these  few  days.  I 
have  learned  much;  and  where  I  fear  I  har- 
bored prejudice  and  distrust,  I  have  learned 
to  admire  and  love. 

"  We  have  both  drained  sorrow's  chalice 
to  the  dregs.  You  gave  two  sons,  and,  I 
may  say  with  entire  truth,  a  daughter  to  the 
cause  in  the  justice  of  which  you  believed ;  and 
you  know  my  sacrifice. 

"  Each  of  us  can  yet  hold  to  the  political 
faith  we  have  always  professed,  and  it  is  not 
necessary  that  either  you  or  I  should  renounce 
our  convictions  or  indulge  in  self-reproaches. 
As  long  as  life  lasts  I  shall  cherish  the  mem- 
ass 


256    NED:    NIGGER   AN'    GENTMAN 

ory  of  your  great  kindness  and  your  cordial 
and  gracious  hospitality." 

Ned  had  already  gone  after  Mr.  Stand- 
wick's  horse,  and  now  brought  him  to  the 
door  saddled  and  beautifully  groomed,  and 
stood  holding  the  splendid  animal,  while  Hes- 
ter and  Dinah  stood  near,  waiting  to  bid  the 
guest  good-by. 

"  And,"  said  Mr.  Standwick,  when  he  saw 
the  three,  "  I  am  also  deeply  indebted  to 
these  faithful  black  people,  and  with  your 
permission  I  will  give  each  of  them  a  token 
of  appreciation,"  saying  which  he  went  down 
the  steps  and  advanced  to  where  Ned,  Hester 
and  Dinah  stood,  and  bade  them  good-by, 
leaving  a  generous  gold  piece  in  the  palm  of 
each. 

Ned  removed  his  hat  and  bowed  low  re- 
peatedly, Hester  and  Dinah  curtsied,  and 
Ned  said,  "  We  much  erbleege,  boss,  but  we 
didn'  want  no  pay.  We  al'ays  glad  to  wait 
on  Marster's  comp'ny.  You  needn'  er  give 
us  dis  gol'  ter  'member  you  by,  'ca'se  you'se 
sho'  quality-folks  lak  M^rster,  an'  we  sorry 
ter  see  you  go.  We  ain'  gwine  fergit  you, 
an'  we  gwine  keep  de  grave  green  an'  de 
flowers  er  growin'." 

'*  Thank  you,  Ned,  and  I'm  going  to  do 
something  for  you  to  which  I  know  Colonel 
Marshall  will  not  object.  I  am  going  to 
have  a  larger  stone  put  at  the  head  of  your 
boy's  grave  than  is  there  now,  and  have  an  in- 
scription put  on  it." 


NED:    NIGGER   AN'   GENT'MAN    257 

"  Does  you  mean,  boss,  dat  you  gwine  ter 
hab  some  writin'  cut  in  de  stone?  " 

"  Yes,  exactly  that." 

"  Den,  boss,  may  I  ax  you  ter  put  some 
writin'  on  it  w'ut  I'd  lak?  " 

"  Certainly,  Ned,  I  will  be  glad  to  have 
carved  on  the  stone  anything  you  wish." 

"  Den,  please,  sah,  jes'  cut  on  de  stone, 

"Tom, 

Ned  an'  Hester's  boy. 
He  promise  his  Miss  Ma'y, 
An'  he  kep"  his  wu'd." 

"  I  will  have  just  those  words  put  on  the 
stone." 

'  Thankee,  boss,  an'  God  bless  you.  An' 
boss,  please,  sah,  don'  fergit  he  kep'  his  wu'd. 
Dat's  de  p'int." 

Colonel  and  Mrs.  Marshall  had  descended 
the  steps  and  stood  near  where  Mr.  Stand- 
wick  was  ready  to  mount,  and  he  turned  and 
shook  hands  with  them,  holding  the  hand  of 
each  long  in  his  grasp.  Then  he  mounted 
and  started  to  ride  away,  but  turned  and  said, 

"  Ned,  I  am  younger  than  you  are  and  may 
outlive  you,  and  if  I  do  I  intend  to  have  a 
stone  put  above  your  head  with  an  inscription 
on  it,  and  will  put  on  the  stone  whatever  you 
wish." 

"  Thankee,  boss,  you  ve'y  kin',"  and  with- 
out hesitation  or  pause  he  added,  "  Jes'  hab 
it  on  de  stone,  please,  sah, 

"  Ned :  Nigger  an'  Gent'man." 


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